Kent councillors considering 'sanctuary' for asylum seekers 'violently intimidated' at meeting

Evening Standard

Councillors in Kent were “violently intimidated” and “pelted with eggs” at a meeting by people wearing balaclavas in the public gallery, MPs have been told.Swale Borough Council were debating making their area a “District of Sanctuary” for asylum seekers in the meeting on Wednesday evening.Kevin McKenna, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, which includes Swale Borough, branded the incident an “attack on democracy itself” as he told the House of Commons of his horror at the “violent scenes”.

Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm horrified to report to you and to the House as a whole that last night in Swale Borough Council there were violent scenes as people wearing balaclavas in the public gallery itself violently intimidated councillors.

00:15They were threatening them, pelting them with eggs and missiles from the gallery.

00:22This is an attack on democracy itself. This is an attack on free speech. This is an attack on my constituents.

00:29The building was so badly vandalised afterwards with toilets flooded, lifts destroyed, it can't be used today and is not open.

00:36My constituents cannot access council services because of these actions.

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