Today’s first meeting of Suffolk County Council’s new administration was plunged into chaos and overshadowed by the new leader’s refusal to distance himself from past controversial statements on social media.
A point of order raised by the leader of the opposition led to the Chairman of the council opening the debate, with challenges coming from across the chamber. Councillors called on Reform UK’s new leader of Suffolk County Council, Councillor Hadwen, to distance himself from his previous conduct on social media, which included:
- Stating that Russia was not his enemy, around one month after the Salisbury poisonings
- Stating Enoch Powell ‘was right’
- Stating he would like controversial political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos to be his Public Relations Manager
Leader of Suffolk Conservative Group, Cllr Richard Rout said:
“It’s hugely disappointing that the first meeting of this new council administration was totally overshadowed by the new leader’s controversial social media past.
“This wasn’t just a single comment; it is a pattern of behaviour that scares and alienates people across Suffolk. Not least the Ukrainian residents who now call our county home due to Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“Given these comments were made some time ago, we thought it only fair, in the light of the huge public and staff outcry at these remarks, to give the new leader the opportunity to publicly address his past comments and distance himself from them. That he chose not to do so, and remained silent, is a huge shame as it was a real opportunity for a fresh start with our communities and council staff.”
During the previous Conservative administration, Suffolk County Council unanimously approved a motion condemning Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and supported efforts to house refugees fleeing the conflict.
