Councillor says ‘Nazi’ question to mayor was ‘silly’

AN EAST Riding councillor suspended for suggesting the mayor of Market Weighton had Nazi ancestors said the remarks were “silly”.

Conservative David Rudd, of the Wolds Weighton ward, inset, said he did not believe it was racist to ask Town Mayor Peter Hemmerman if his ancestors were Nazi Party members.

He added he sent the “cheeky” email after a few glasses of wine following a failed attempt to oust the town mayor earlier this year.

The Yorkshire Party town mayor said he believed Coun Rudd’s suspension for at least two months pending a Conservative conduct probe was not an adequate punishment.

Mike Stathers, Deputy Leader of East Riding Council and Conservative chief whip, said Coun Rudd’s suspension would be reviewed following the two month period.

The case has been referred to the East Yorkshire Conservative Association which is set to rule on whether Coun Rudd should be reinstated.

Coun Rudd said he and the town mayor had never got on that he thought he was a “nasty piece of work”. The councillor added he decided to send the email, later reported to East Riding Council leader Richard Burton, to have a “dig” at Town Mayor Hemmerman.

Coun Rudd said: “One night after a couple of large glasses of wine I decided to send him a private email. I said: ‘Dear Peter, I wonder if you could tell me if any of your ancestors were members of the Nazi Party?’

“He then went to the Conservative group and reported me and they decided to suspend me for a maximum of six months which I accepted. About a month ago I was also replaced as chair of the Western Area Planning Committee.

“I do not consider myself a racist, my mother was Armenian. I was having a cheeky dig at him. It was a silly and stupid thing to do, I accept that.”

Mr Hemmerman said he felt Coun Rudd was trying to imply he ran Market Weighton like a dictator – which he denies.

The town mayor said: ““Cllr Rudd is still acting as a councillor, he just can’t call himself a Conservative. That doesn’t seem like much of a punishment to me.

“I feel like had I been black, gay or Jewish I would have felt even more strongly about it.

“I don’t think he should be allowed to represent the town anymore.”