Solihull councillors have given emotional speeches about the abuse they have received during this term. Some members of Solihull Council struggled to hold back tears as they spoke during a debate on a move to strengthen the borough’s response to hatred and discrimination.
Green Party Motion Sparks Emotional Debate
The Green Party proposed the motion at the latest full council meeting – the last before next month’s local elections – which included various measures including to strengthen the definitional framework, establish reporting structures and support the authority’s workforce.
In the debate Councillor Shesh Sheshabhatter said: “I’m not standing here for sympathy. In recent weeks and months I have received messages I can only describe as deeply threatening and disturbing. Messages telling me to go back, threats I’d be egged, that I was being watched and people would come and get me. I want to say directly to residents, to candidates and anyone thinking to serve their community – do not let a small number of cowardly messages take away your confidence.”
Councillors Share Personal Experiences
Councillor Hazel Dawkins said: “As colleagues know across this chamber last year I was subject to a hate crime in my community. All because I use a crutch and don’t use it from time to time. In the last few months all I have seen across our neighbourhoods is people targeted for who they are. It is not acceptable. My colleagues have faced misogyny, I have faced ableism – I have seen such racial hatred. We can not stay silent on this.”
Councillor Shahin Ashraf said: “Last year when I became mayor one of the most horrific things was to be attacked online by the far right. If you haven’t experienced discrimination you don’t know what it is like. For me this motion is really important.”
Debate Over Next Steps
Leader of the council Councillor Karen Grinsell said: “The abuse that has been suffered is fundamentally wrong and not acceptable. This needs to go to scrutiny to ensure there aren’t any gaps and we are not missing anything.”
Councillor Ade Adeyemi said: “One of the things that concerns me talking about referring to scrutiny is how does that look to the public? How does it look when we get a chance to say something positive and meaningful and then we say let’s kick it into the long grass?”
But Councillor Michael Gough said: “I have to be honest, I don’t understand all of this. To be asked to vote on it right now, I don’t feel it has had the due consideration it actually deserves.”
And Councillor Bob Sleigh added: “My view is it should be sent to scrutiny because a future administration will need to abide by this and 12 of us (councillors) at least are not going to be here this time next month.”
When the vote was taken councillors agreed to send the motion to stronger communities and neighbourhood services scrutiny board. The meeting was held at the Civic Suite on April 14.
