Green councillor Ben Duncan has been suspended from the Green group of councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council by his party.
His suspension follows a panel of inquiry by the party after Councillor Duncan, who represents Queen’s Park ward, described soldiers as “hired killers” in a tweet on Armed Forces Day.
He had already suspended his membership of the Green group himself.
The party said: “Following a highly controversial comment on Twitter on (Saturday) 28 June by Councillor Ben Duncan on the armed forces, a panel of inquiry was set up by the local party to investigate whether this and some other comments by Councillor Duncan in social media were appropriate for a person in his position and especially to determine whether he brought himself and colleagues into disrepute.”
Lisa Murray, who chairs the Brighton and Hove Green Party, said: “The panel of inquiry has concluded that Councillor Ben Duncan should no longer serve as a member of the Green group of councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council.
“This follows his recent statement on Twitter concerning the armed forces which understandably offended many both within and outside the party.
“The panel concluded that since this recent incident follows a history of making comments in social media that many would view as inappropriate for someone in such a position, taken as a whole, Councillor Duncan’s actions amount to a breach of standards and judgement expected of a Green councillor, bringing himself and colleagues into disrepute.
“Councillor Duncan’s removal from the Green group is for the remaining council term.
“From this point Councillor Duncan will not participate in votes or discussions in the Green group or be involved in any decisions of the group and will sit as an independent councillor and not be counted as a part of the group.
“Any further investigation is beyond the remit of this disciplinary panel.
“We thank Councillor Duncan for the contribution he has made while a member of the group.”
Labour group leader Councillor Warren Morgan said: “Ben Duncan was elected as a Green and they cannot just wash their hands of responsibility.
“The right thing for them to do would be to have him resign immediately.
“It is wrong that he continue to be paid as a councillor until next May.”
hey i reserving comment on if it was right to suspend ben duncan or not but he cant be made to resign his seat and if he did the ammount of money the council would spend on the by-election would be a lot more than what they will give him as an allowance it is only ten months to the real election.
hey i reserving comment on if it was right to suspend ben duncan or not but he cant be made to resign his seat and if he did the ammount of money the council would spend on the by-election would be a lot more than what they will give him as an allowance it is only ten months to the real election.
Labour’s Warren Morgan says “The right thing for them to do would be to have him resign immediately.”
As a councillor himself, Warren Morgan knows very well that no political party can make a councillor resign their seat. That is a matter for council standards rules. So why is he saying it then? It is very misleading.
Labour’s Warren Morgan says “The right thing for them to do would be to have him resign immediately.”
As a councillor himself, Warren Morgan knows very well that no political party can make a councillor resign their seat. That is a matter for council standards rules. So why is he saying it then? It is very misleading.
Labour’s Warren Morgan says “The right thing for them to do would be to have him resign immediately.”
As a councillor himself, Warren Morgan knows very well that no political party can make a councillor resign their seat. That is a matter for council standards rules. So why is he saying it then? It is very misleading.
Disgusting comment from a disgusting party although I’m not surprised when you look at the Green Party’s general views (Google “Green Party anti-semitism”). I’m surprised that the media are anti-UKIP and not anti-Greens. UKIP only discriminate against those who come over here to take take take. I’m Polish and wouldn’t vote UKIP if they were anti-Eastern Europeans in any way! It’s good that the Greens have suspended him but they should’ve gone further and sacked him.
Disgusting comment from a disgusting party although I’m not surprised when you look at the Green Party’s general views (Google “Green Party anti-semitism”). I’m surprised that the media are anti-UKIP and not anti-Greens. UKIP only discriminate against those who come over here to take take take. I’m Polish and wouldn’t vote UKIP if they were anti-Eastern Europeans in any way! It’s good that the Greens have suspended him but they should’ve gone further and sacked him.
Grzegorz – As mentioned above, the Greens can’t sack Councillor Duncan – only the standards board of the council can do that. Are the media anti-UKIP? Most of their support is boosted by the right-wing tabloid press.
Grzegorz – As mentioned above, the Greens can’t sack Councillor Duncan – only the standards board of the council can do that. Are the media anti-UKIP? Most of their support is boosted by the right-wing tabloid press.
Grzegorz – As mentioned above, the Greens can’t sack Councillor Duncan – only the standards board of the council can do that. Are the media anti-UKIP? Most of their support is boosted by the right-wing tabloid press.
@Grzegorz You should also Google ‘Greens Engage’; a group set up by Greens to identify anti-Semitism within their own party. And let us not forget openly anti-Semitic Pippa Bartolotti, leader of the Welsh Green Party
http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2012/08/pippa-barolottis-anti-semitic-comments/
@Grzegorz You should also Google ‘Greens Engage’; a group set up by Greens to identify anti-Semitism within their own party. And let us not forget openly anti-Semitic Pippa Bartolotti, leader of the Welsh Green Party
http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2012/08/pippa-barolottis-anti-semitic-comments/
@Grzegorz You should also Google ‘Greens Engage’; a group set up by Greens to identify anti-Semitism within their own party. And let us not forget openly anti-Semitic Pippa Bartolotti, leader of the Welsh Green Party
http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2012/08/pippa-barolottis-anti-semitic-comments/
He’s still listed on the Brighton and Hove web page as Green Party. Not much of an apology from him either.
He’s still listed on the Brighton and Hove web page as Green Party. Not much of an apology from him either.
He’s still listed on the Brighton and Hove web page as Green Party. Not much of an apology from him either.