Labour councillor sorry for 'Nazi' salute
A Labour councillor has apologised for making what appeared to be a Nazi salute before shouting "I'm a fascist" during a council meeting.
Alan Gardiner, who represents the Ings ward on Hull City Council, made the gesture after telling another councillor to "shut up" during a debate.
Lib Dem councillor Sarita Robinson, who is Jewish, described the incident on Thursday as "horrific" and "deeply disturbing".
The Labour Party said it was reviewing the footage.
In the moments before the incident, which was live streamed on YouTube, Gardiner had criticised comments made during a discussion about the council budget.
He then reacted to a further remark by raising his arm in the air and laughed as he said: "I'm a fascist, I'm a fascist, I'm a fascist."
The incident drew gasps from some councillors and left others open-mouthed but the meeting continued.
In response to the incident, Robinson, said: "It was deeply disturbing to see this from a senior Labour councillor at a live council meeting.
"Labour said they would get serious about tackling antisemitism at every level; they need to act clearly and swiftly on this.
"Hull is a proud and welcoming city and this action does not speak for us.
"As a Jewish person and minority in the city, it was horrific to see this display of ambient antisemitism."
Gardiner, who represents the Hull Youth Trust and the Kingston-upon-Hull Education Foundation Trust, has served on the council since 2011.
In a statement, he said: "I wholeheartedly apologise for my comments made in the chamber.
"After a heated debate I made comments in irony, which upon reflection, I know are highly inappropriate."
Reporting by Richard Madden
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