Solihull council’s unelected monitoring officer charged with upholding standards, Deborah Merry, has over-ruled a taxpayer-funded ‘independent’ investigation into councillor Margaret Bassett’s tweeting about immigration.
In doing so, Ms Merry asserts a ‘reasonable person’ would not consider the re-tweets so offensive and disrespectful that Coun Bassett breached the council’s code of conduct’s requirements to act with respect, consideration and leadership.
Coun Bassett’s uncritically re-tweeted comments concerning that ‘Islam has no place’ in another country, that allowing refugees puts lives at risk, inflammatory words about Muslim London mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted by English Defence League ex-leader Tommy Robinson, and more.
Ms Merry appears to be unaware of the international condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s similar re-tweeting of similar views.
Councillors should intervene before the council is further brought into disrepute.
