Councillors Clash During Debate On Equality And Diversity

Councillors have clashed during a debate about equality and diversity at the Isle of Wight Council.

The row broke out as members considered a motion reaffirming the authority's commitment to its Equality Objectives for 2023-27 and supporting minority groups.

Independent East Cowes councillor Karl Love said he and members of the LGBT community "no longer feel safe" on the Island.

During the debate, he also accused members of the council's Reform UK group of having "created hatred and bad feeling".

The motion, amended by Cllr Love, was passed at Wednesday evening's meeting (September 16).

It reaffirmed the council's commitment to the principles and protections contained within the Equality Act 2010 and recognised diversity and inclusion as strengthening the community.

It also restated the council's existing commitment to flying national flags at County Hall alongside other flags where permission is already in place.

Reform UK councillor Robert Newton said he supported the principles of dignity, equality and freedom, but questioned the reference to particular group flags.

He said he believed the Union Flag represented "every resident, every background and every community equally".

Conservative group leader Cllr Ed Blake said an amendment had been put forward to maintain the council's existing arrangements for flags.

Cllr Love said he had not asked for a change to the council's flag policy.

"The Union Flag is one of the most important things in my life," he said, before adding that the debate had "created hatred and bad feeling".

Reform UK councillor and council vice-chair Tony Barry intervened, saying there had been no mention of hatred and that the motion had focused on supporting diversity.

Reform group leader James Whelan said he had initially been unsure whether to speak, but felt he had a responsibility to do so "as a man that happens to be gay".

He argued that the original campaign for gay equality was about treating people equally, rather than creating different classes of citizens or asking public bodies to take positions on cultural issues.

Cllr Love later said he had "obviously touched a nerve for a lot of people".

He questioned why he and others felt frightened and said members of the LGBT community were experiencing fear which needed to be addressed.

"Do you want to live on an Island that’s united or do you want to live on an Island that lives in fear?" he asked.

The motion was supported by 17 councillors, including members of the Conservative and Green groups, three Liberal Democrats, five Island First Network councillors, the All for Islanders group, an independent councillor and the Labour representative.

Three Reform UK councillors voted against the motion, while 15 Reform members abstained.