Dan Peters 11 March 2014

Danny DeVito slur and racism claim mars chaotic council meeting

Opposing politicians chucked insults at each other as a Tower Hamlets council meeting descended into chaos.

During the filmed meeting, Labour councillor Joshua Peck called for a standards investigation after he claimed Independent councillor Anwar Khan had called him a ‘racist piece of s**t’ off-camera.

Earlier, Cllr Khan had been recorded mocking the appearance of Labour group leader, Cllr Sirajul Islam, labelling him Hollywood actor Danny DeVito.

Tensions boiled over when Cllr Peck switched off the microphone of Cllr Khan, who raged: ‘It [turning off his microphone] goes to the heart of the point I’ve been raising over the last four weeks that the Labour administration – the white elite – do not want talented Bengalis to speak.’

Cllr Lesley Pavitt, who chaired the meeting, struggled to keep control of the meeting, attempting at one point to get the council’s cabinet member for resources, Independent councillor Alibor Choudhury, evicted for ‘more than offensive’ comments.

Councillors disrupted the meeting by chanting, shouting and jeering at various points.

Photo: s_bukley/Shutterstock.com

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Support Workers - Development Programme

Durham County Council
£26,403 - £28,598 per annum. Pay award pending.
Residential Support Workers – Temporary 12 Month development opportunity Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leaders

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £32,597 - £36,363 (pay award pending)
Team Leaders – Opportunities are available across the County Durham Area   Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Workers

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £30,024 - £33,699. Pay award pending.
Residential Workers - Opportunities are available across the County Durham Area Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Service Design Lead

Durham County Council
£40,777 to £45,091 p.a. (Grade 11) Pay award pending
We are looking for an experienced and confident Service Design Lead to play a key role in shaping the future of customer services within Durham County Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

2 x Health Care and Education Assistants

Durham County Council
£24,796- £25,185 (Pro Rata)
Temporary Contract until August 2027, with the potential to extend, subject to funding. Part Time- 34 hours per week (8.40am to 4pm Mon-Fri) Term Time Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner