It's wrong to reward councillor who made ‘Shylock’ comment

Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors have condemned a decision to give additional responsibilities to a Labour councillor who admitted to using an anti-Semitic term to describe a Jewish colleague.

Gideon Bull, Labour councillor for White Hart Lane ward and Haringey’s Cabinet Member for Local Investment and Economic Growth, was appointed to serve on the board of Newable, a non-profit organisation that helps small businesses, in place of another Cabinet Member at a Full Council meeting at Haringey Civic Centre on the evening of Tuesday November 26th. However, Liberal Democrat councillors voted against his appointment and several Labour councillors abstained.

Earlier this month, Cllr Bull resigned as Labour parliamentary candidate for Clacton following a renewed focus on his comments.

Speaking in response to Cllr Bull’s appointment, Cllr Liz Morris, leader of the Haringey Lib Dem council group, said that:

“Whilst there is nothing wrong in principle with changing which Cabinet member sits on this board, given Cllr Bull’s unacceptable behaviour, the Liberal Democrats on Haringey Council could not endorse him being given additional responsibilities, nor him acting as a representative of Haringey.

“Cllr Bull is the second member of Cllr Ejiofor’s cabinet who has been allowed to remain in post after using anti-Semitic language. I’m afraid this is yet further evidence that anti-Semitism within Labour’s ranks is still not being taken seriously.”

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