Vice chairman of South Kesteven District Council heard to make racist remark at public meeting

A formal complaint is being made about the vice chairman of a council who made a racist comment at a public meeting.

Coun Ian Stokes (Con) used the expression while chairing a governance and audit committee meeting at South Kesteven District Council’s chamber on Wednesday afternoon (October 20). He has since apologised.

The committee meeting was open to the public and streamed on South Kesteven District Council’s YouTube channel. The video was temporarily removed by the council to edit out the racist comment.

Coun Stokes, who is also vice-chairman of the council, made the racist comment about 30 minutes into the meeting.

Coun Ashley Baxter (Ind), who represents Market and West Deeping, and mayor of Stamford Gloria Johnson were also present.

Coun Baxter said: “When I heard Coun Stokes say those words, I thought surely I haven’t heard that correctly. Surely he wouldn’t have said that as chairman of a public meeting and as vice-chairman of the council. But he did.

“To use such archaic, racist language is totally unacceptable.”

Coun Baxter, who attended diversity training when it was offered to all South Kesteven district councillors last year, said he would be putting in a formal complaint to the monitoring officer.

District councillor for Stamford St George’s ward, Amanda Wheeler (Lib Dem aligned with Ind), is a supporter of Stamford Anti-Racism Group.

She said: “It is a year since we passed an anti-racism motion at South Kesteven District Council, which was unanimously supported.

“One aspect of that motion was that councillors undergo diversity training.

“Had Coun Stokes attended that training he would know full well that using offensive language is not acceptable behaviour.

“I am appalled, shocked and saddened that not only was he comfortable saying this in the chamber, but that no one challenged him publicly.

“It’s not acceptable. It’s never acceptable.

“I call on Ian Stokes to apologise for his unacceptable use of language and to attend the diversity training he clearly needs.”

She added that she was grateful to the Independent councillor who notified her of the slur.

Yvette Diaz-Munoz, a founder of Stamford Anti-Racism Group, said the expression Coun Stokes used is a racial slur and should never be used, adding that he should resign.

“In 2017 when Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris used the same expression she was suspended from the party,” she said.

“The term is believed to have its roots in the ‘Underground Railroad’ route to freedom used by those who had been enslaved and who were fugitives in the south of the United States in the mid-19th Century and referred to hiding in woodstacks outside houses and in pulpwood in railway carriages. The term is dehumanising. You only need to watch films like 12 Years a Slave to see how it is used as a weapon to treat black people as inferior.

“In short it is deeply offensive and I was frankly shocked to hear that someone in such a position of responsibility could even think it appropriate to use such a term.”

Ben Selby, Grantham and Stamford Labour Party chairman, said the comment was particularly ill-judged following the killing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess.

He said: “There is no doubt, we all need to do better, because words, be they said in person, in broadcast, or online, have impact and South Kesteven District Council pledges that everyone should feel welcome and valued. So, as vice chairman of the council and a high-profile public servant, Coun Stokes is responsible for his actions and therefore needs to stand down.”

Coun Stokes, whose son also sits on the district council, represents a ward near Grantham.

On Wednesday evening, Coun Ian Stokes said: “I unreservedly apologise for the wording I used in today’s governance and audit meeting. The phase was completely unacceptable and I withdraw this remark.

“It was said accidentally and for that I am truly and deeply sorry for any offence that I have caused to anyone.”

Coun Kelham Cooke (Con), leader of the council, said: “As a Conservative group and as a district council we take any form of racism incredibly seriously, especially when remarks are made that could cause serious offence.

“As a Conservative administration we consider the use of this type of language by any member completely unacceptable. It is right that Coun Stokes has formally apologised and withdrawn the remark he made at the committee meeting today.

“In the interim, Coun Stokes has been suspended from the Conservative group of South Kesteven District Council pending an investigation by the Conservative Party.”

The monitoring officer for South Kesteven District Council, Alan Robinson, was at Wednesday’s meeting and immediately afterwards spoke to Coun Stokes about the language he had used.

Mr Robinson said: “I am pleased that Coun Stokes has issued an unreserved apology. I will, as monitoring officer, investigate and consider the most appropriate course of action in line with our councillor code of conduct.”

Coun Stokes is due to take over as chairman of South Kesteven District Council next year.

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