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

Half a century in the chamber image

Half a century in the chamber

Cllr Dr James Walsh was elected to Arun District Council in 1975. Here he tells LocalGov what he's learned about trust, transformation and keeping it local.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Care and Housing Support Officer

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band D, SCP 9 -17 (£27,254 - £31,022 per annum) Pro Rata
There will be opportunities to develop with the team. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Strategic Finance Business Partner (Capital & Major Projects)

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band J (£60,194 to £63,832)
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the financial management and oversight of the Council's Capital Programme and major projects portfolio Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Strategic Finance Business Partner (Place OR People)

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band J (£60,194 to £63,832)
Sandwell Council’s Finance and Transformation Division is seeking an experienced Strategic Finance Business Partner (Place OR People) Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Co-ordination Support Officer

Wakefield Council
£26,824 - £28,142
Are you passionate about making a difference to our citizens and the district that they reside in? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Senior Care Assistant

Wakefield Council
£21,641.72 - £23,865.83
We are a Dementia Care Home based in Knottingley, supporting vulnerable adults who have a diagnosis of Dementia. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner