The applicant a local councillor challenged a decision of the respondent, the ethical standards officer to disqualify him. He had made remarks about the deaths of british soldiers in Northern Ireland, which had been found to be disrespectful and deeply offensive.
Held: Though a councillor, the applicant must still have the freedom of speech of anybody else. The tribunal had failed to consider this freedom in its decision. It was wrong to seek to distinguish the applicant’s freedoms between when he acted as a member of the council and when he acted as a politician. A much reduced penalty was substituted.
Judges:
Wilkie J
Citations:
[2005] EWHC 1145 (Admin), Times 16-Jun-2005
Links:
Statutes:
Local Government Act 2000 79(15)
Citing:
See Also – Neville Buckle Sanders v Kingston (No 2) QBD 14-Nov-2005
The applicant, a local councillor appealed against a finding of the local government tribunal leaidng to his suspension.
Held: The tribunal had an obligation to consider and start from the guidance issued under the Act, and have given an . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Local Government, Human Rights
Updated: 01 July 2022; Ref: scu.228503