Race rant Leicestershire Councillor is suspended

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Race rant Leicestershire Councillor is suspended

A Leicestershire county councillor has been suspended for a month and told to undergo further diversity training over remarks he made at a public meeting. 

Robert Fraser has admitted that he was "stupid" to say that Romanians would "stick a knife in you as soon as look at you", and that some Europeans "make the Irish look like complete amateurs". 

A County Hall standards sub-committee found the councillor for Groby and Ratby behaved in a way that could have brought his position, and that of the council, into disrepute. 

Members agreed he had breached Leicestershire County Council's code of conduct and he was reprimanded officially at a hearing on Tuesday. 

Despite already having been to sent to diversity training by the county's Tory party, the committee ruled he must go again, ideally on a one-to-one basis, and pay the first £250 of the cost. For his month's suspension, which has started immediately, all allowances for that period will be withdrawn. 

An investigation began after complaints were made about his conduct at a Groby Parish Council meeting to discuss plans for a site for about 50 caravans off Sacheverell Way in Groby. 

The outburst was recorded and released on internet video site YouTube. 

It was seen by hundreds of people online as well as hundreds more at the public meeting. 

He responded to a comment from the audience by saying: "Some of these European ones, they make the Irish look like complete amateurs and I would dread, I would dread, to see them in Groby. 

"The Romanians; they're lovely people they are. They'll stick a knife in you soon as look at you. 

"There might be some good ones. Excuse me if there are any Romanians here. Hopefully without a knife. I've got to get out of here. I'm a bit slow. 

"What's going to happen to the loved ones that have been buried in a cemetery with a transit site around the corner? We know what's going to happen there straight away. You can only imagine it. 

"Over my dead body will they come here." 

When the remarks came to light in March this year, two months after the meeting on January 8, chairman of the Leicester Gipsy Council liaison group, Alfie Kefford, called for Coun Fraser to resign and said the comments were akin to "incitement to racial hatred", adding: "To do it in a public place is totally unacceptable." 

The Romanian ambassador to the UK, Dr Ion Jinga, said the comments were "extremely regrettable and totally unfair". 

At the hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Councillor Fraser said only a few words and questions were directed to chairman of Groby Parish Council, Peter Batty, who was representing him. 

Mr Batty argued that while Mr Fraser did not deny saying these things, he did not believe he was there in his capacity as a county councillor, so could not bring the authority or his position into disrepute. 

He also argued it was the public's view which best showed whether he brought himself or the authority into disrepute, and he was re-elected in July. 

He said: "He is not denying that he said those statements. He bitterly regrets them and is not making excuses. 

"The video does not establish any relationship with Leicestershire County Council. You have no evidence that he was acting in his official capacity. 

"The most reasonable test is of public opinion. I would suggest that Mr Fraser passed this test at the county council elections." 

However, these arguments were firmly rejected by the panel. 

Panel chairman Martin Caple said: "We are satisfied Mr Fraser made a derogatory statement and the comment did not fall into part of an acceptable opinion. 

"Your conduct is in breach and you brought your office into disrepute and could have brought the authority into disrepute."