Councillor made 'racist' jibe about Afro-Caribbeans

A councillor accused of making "racist remarks" during a national meeting has been found to have breached a code of conduct.

Conservative Nick Turner implied people of Afro-Caribbean heritage were "unable or unwilling to learn how to float", a standards committee was told.

He made the comment during a virtual meeting of the Local Government Association's (LGA) coastal special interest group in June 2023.

Tendring District Council in Essex said Mr Turner had apologised.

Ernest Gibson, who chaired the LGA meeting on 29 June last year, alleged Mr Turner made "highly offensive" and "racist remarks" about the ethnic group.

He claimed the councillor "made comments about the clothing that people of specific faiths wear when in the sea, indicating that - in his view - the clothing was inappropriate”.

A report found Mr Turner's remarks were "made out of ignorance rather than malice" and his language was "clumsy and patronising".

At another meeting on 5 June, Mr Turner had also launched a "wholly inappropriate and disrespectful verbal attack" on an Environment Agency officer, the report said.

He resigned from the coastal special interest group after the complaint was made.

An external investigator concluded that he breached Tendring District Council's code of conduct on four counts and the council's own standards committee agreed at a meeting on Thursday.

According to a statement made in his defence, Mr Turner had a "long-standing record of advocacy for equality" and had apologised for his choice of words.

"He was intent on highlighting perceived barriers to swimming education and facilities, rather than intending to make derogatory remarks," it added.

Liberal Democrat committee member Ann Wiggins also said: “Nothing in this hearing should seek to undermine [his] legacy."

It stressed until he had undertaken training and made further apologies, he should not be allowed to rejoin any committees or "outside bodies".

The BBC approached Mr Turner for comment.

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