Media role for new councillor
A Conservative councillor who called Sunderland a ‘post-apocalyptic **** hole’ has been made press officer for the city’s branch of the party.
Antony Mullen had his membership temporarily revoked ahead of the May 3 local elections, but was reinstated following his polling day victory in Barnes.
Coun Robert Oliver, Sunderland’s Conservative leader, said he had ‘suggested the role’ for Coun Mullen, but refused to go into further detail, other than to say it was an ‘internal group issue’.
He added: “He has apologised so we feel it’s fair to move on and allow him to take a full role as a councillor.”
During campaigning, tweets posted between 201114, before he joined the Conservative Party, emerged in which he called Sunderland a ‘post-apocalyptic **** hole’ and Labour MP Diane Abbott a ‘filthy, bulbous pig’.
Coun Mullen said: “There wasnopublicbacklashwhen I was knocking on doors, a lot of people said it was ridiculous that they had dug things up from years ago.”
Meanwhile,anothernewly-elected councillor will “sit without party badge”, the Liberal Democrats have confirmed.
Lynn Appleby won in the Sandhill ward but has apologised for previously sharing offensive posts on social media.
Coun Appleby will still be allowed to join a ‘Liberal Democrat and Others’ political grouping on the council.
Niall Hodson, leader of the Sunderland Lib Dems, said: “The local Lib Dem party feels that this arrangement is the fairest possible in the circumstances, as the material on Facebook was shared prior to our candidate’s membership of the party, and we are satisfied that it does not reflect her views today.
“We do however take the criticism seriously, and recognise that we as a local party need to learn and improve.
“I would like us to do better in the future and to that end, all members of our council group will be undertaking diversity and awareness training.”
According to the party, Coun Appleby’s situation will be reviewed ‘at some point in the future’.
In a statement, she said: “I recognise that it was wrong to share these posts and I apologise unreservedly.”