Councillor refuses to go in parish ‘bigotry row’
Apology for Afghan comment cuts no ice in chaotic meeting
I’m not resigning, I do quite a lot on this council, which a lot of you don’t Councillor Sheila Daly
APARISH council meeting in Solihull descended into chaos after a councillor accused of bigotry refused to resign and laughed off suggestions she should be made to attend a racism awareness course.
During last month’s meeting of Kingshurst Parish Council, pensioner Cllr Sheila Daly suggested Afghan refugees were coming to Birmingham to “blow us up”.
She stood by her comments when questioned the next day, telling the Birmingham Post: “Just ignore me, I’m old.”
Last week the parish council met for the first time since the remarks.
Cllr Daly, 78, was challenged by fellow councillors who demanded she resign following the comments.
But prior to the meeting she said she had received backing and brought with her a list of people who had pledged support.
She then made a statement to the council apologising for her remarks.
Cllr Daly said: “At the last meeting I made a remark which was inappropriate, I apologise to all my fellow councillors and I would like to apologise to the rest of you for what I said on that night. Please accept my apologies.”
But any hopes the outspoken representative had of drawing a line under the affair were dashed when Cllr Tina Williams accused her of bringing Kingshurst Parish Council into disrepute and called for her to resign.
Cllr Williams said: “She told the press that she still stands by her remarks but not to take any notice as she is old.
“Given that I am two years older than her, it sounds like elderly people can say what they want to.
“I feel that an apology from her is not enough and the damage has been done to KPC, Cllr Daly should do the right thing and tender her resignation.”
Cllr Daly pointed to her time on the ambulance service as evidence of her good character and said: “I’m not resigning, I do quite a lot on this council, which a lot of you don’t, I will say that.
“What I said, it was the wrong way to say it, but I have got my own opinion and there is freedom of speech.
“It was just the wrong time and the wrong day for me to open my mouth. I’ve apologised and I can do no more than that.”
But Cllr Pablo Sultana demanded she step down.
He claimed: “This is just the latest of a number of issues where Councillor Daly has shown herself to be unprofessional, bigoted and disrespectful of other people. I, for one, was absolutely livid to hear of her comments.”
Fellow Cllr Beverley Follows was the only person to speak in defence of Cllr Daly during the 13-minute exchange.
Cllr Follows said: “Sheila and I have had our differences over many years. She is a grafter and she has put a lot into the council over the years. I think we should just draw a line under it and let it go.”
But the verbal squabble still persisted, with Cllr Daly shouting “you are a liar” at Cllr Sultana after he accused her of bragging about making a former councillor cry.
Cllr David Cole, acting chair, attempted to bring the proceedings under control as members shouted over each other.
Cllr Sultana went on: “I want an apology from this lady for calling me a liar in a public arena.”
“I can’t apologise if he has lied,” Daly retorted.
Cllr Sultana later handed Cllr Cole
a piece of paper. Cllr Cole said: “I’ve just had something pointed to me, I’m going to ask Cllr Daly, as chairman, would you be mindful to go on a racial awareness and equality training course?”
Cllr Daly laughed at this suggestion and replied: “When was I racial?”
To which Cllr Cole responded: “I’m not saying you were, I asked if you would be prepared to go on a course.”
Daly said: “I don’t need to go on a racial awareness course. I’m not racist.”
Cllr Cole finally ended the debate: “Okay, I can’t force you. What I’m going to do is draw a line under this. I’m sorry, we must get on with the agenda.”