The motion, due to go before Kirklees Council on Wednesday, 16 September, calls for the authority’s Members’ Code of Conduct to be reviewed amid concerns that public statements and social media activity by councillors can damage community relations and undermine trust in local democracy.
It has been put forward by Cllr Ammar Anwar, Independent councillor for Dewsbury West, and is signed by Cllr Habiban Zaman, Kirklees Independents councillor for Batley East.
At the heart of the motion is a call for Kirklees Council to reaffirm a “zero tolerance” approach to racial, ethnic and religious discrimination and ensure its rules are strong enough to hold elected members to account.
The motion states: “All residents have the right to live free from discrimination, intimidation and prejudice and should have confidence that those elected to represent them uphold these values.”
It also raises the potentially contentious issue of historic social media posts made before someone became a councillor – and whether those posts should be relevant to their suitability for public office if they remain accessible online.
The motion states: “Public confidence in local democracy depends upon councillors maintaining behaviour that promotes trust, confidence and respect in public office.”
It adds that statements made by elected members, whether in person, in print, online or through social media, can have a “significant impact upon public confidence and community relations”.
Addressing historic material, it says that while some statements or posts may have been made before an individual became an elected member, publicly accessible material could still undermine confidence in the office of councillor where it is perceived to “promote or endorse racism, discrimination, prejudice or hatred”.
If approved, the motion would ask the council to review its Members’ Code of Conduct to determine whether existing rules adequately address public statements, publications and social media activity that could undermine confidence in elected office or bring the council into disrepute.
Any proposed amendments should establish “clear expectations around racist, discriminatory and hate-based conduct”.
The motion also calls on the council to reaffirm its commitment to promoting equality, challenging racism and discrimination, fostering community cohesion and maintaining high standards among those elected to represent Kirklees residents.
Councillors would also be encouraged to attend equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism training.
The debate comes against the backdrop of controversy surrounding alleged historical social media activity involving a number of Reform UK councillors in Kirklees.
Councillors Stephen Dransfield, Tracy Clayton and Dave Rowan, who represent Colne Valley West, and Eric Butterworth, who represents Dewsbury East, have faced scrutiny in recent months over alleged historic social media content.
Cllr Rowan faced an administrative suspension following allegations concerning social media activity.
Cllr Butterworth has since apologised for posts from his account, saying they had been “intended as satire” and did not represent his own views.
The timing of the motion therefore raises a wider question for Kirklees: what standards should residents be entitled to expect from those elected to represent increasingly diverse communities, and should a councillor’s historic online activity form part of that accountability?
If time allows at Wednesday’s Full Council meeting, councillors will debate the motion before voting on whether the requested review should go ahead.
