Ukip AM in racial slur storm set for Senedd suspension
AUKIP AM who was recorded making an apparent racial slur against a prominent Labour politician looks set to be suspended from the Senedd.
Michelle Brown called Chuka Umunna MP a “f***ing coconut” in a telephone conversation with former aide Nigel Williams in May 2016.
A well as the remarks about Mr Umunna, Ms Brown also levelled criticism at Barack Obama and former Labour MP Tristram Hunt, who she branded a “t**t”.
She included former US president Mr Obama in her comment about Mr Umunna.
The incident was referred to Standards Commissioner Sir Roderick Evans QC. The Senedd’s standards committee, which includes two Ukip members, has now ruled she had made a “severe breach” of members’ code of conduct.
It recommended a suspension of a week, which will be put to a vote on May 2. The vote can go ahead after an appeal against the proposed censure, led by her leader in the Senedd Neil Hamilton, failed.
In his investigation report, Sir Roderick found the term “coconut” fell below the standard of conduct required of AMs.
He said the point that Ms Brown was making – that, despite Mr Umunna’s heritage, his privileged upbringing meant he had no greater understanding of the lives of ordinary members of the black and minority ethnic community – was “within the range of points that a >
politician is entitled to make”.
But he said the fact remained that “Ms Brown, in making her point, resorted to using a term of racial abuse”.
Ms Brown told Sir Roderick that the comments complained of “were made during a private and personal conversation between two friends and party colleagues”.
But the Commissioner said that was “not realistic” as she had been discussing the terms of employment of a person whom she was considering employing.
The committee agreed, saying “the term used in this instance was a term of racial abuse, and as such utterly unacceptable”.
It concluded that Ms Brown had brought the Assembly into disrepute, and said the language she used was “below the expectations of an Assembly Member and that racism has no place in society”.
Yesterday, Plaid Cymru said it “fully supports the recommendation” to exclude her from the Assembly.
A spokesman said: “There is no place for it and it will not be tolerated.”
An investigation by Ukip’s national executive council is believed to be ongoing, and the possible suspension from the Senedd is understood to be the first of its kind.
In the same recorded phone conversation, Ms Brown admitted her brother Richard Baxendale – who had been controversially hired as a researcher in her office – was not qualified for the role.
She said: “I’m employing Richard on the lowest band because, well, he isn’t... he’s got no experience, he’s got no qualifications for it.
“He’s very much, I mean I discussed it with him last night. He’s quite happy.
“Even on the lowest band, just over £18,000, he’s still on more money than he would be if he stayed at doing what he’s doing.”