Councillors 'pelted with eggs' at refugee debate

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's (SBC) debate on making the area a "district of sanctuary" for refugees was disrupted by shouting and banging on Wednesday.

Kevin McKenna, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, branded the "violent scenes" an "attack on democracy itself".

The Kent council said it was working to reopen its office after "deliberate flooding caused water to pour through the ceiling", and a lift and toilets were damaged.

Mayor of Swale Karen Watson asked for the removal of multiple people 13 minutes into the meeting and the debate was temporarily interrupted.

The meeting reconvened and there were further interjections and noise from the packed public gallery as debate on the motion continued.

The motion to recognise Swale as a "district of sanctuary" would make it a "place where refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed, supported, and valued as members of our community", council documents said.

It did not pass.

A Sittingbourne area committee meeting on Thursday will be held remotely after the alleged damage.

McKenna told the House of Commons on Thursday that people in the public gallery were pelting councillors "with eggs and missiles".

"This is an attack on democracy itself," he said. "This is an attack on free speech. This is an attack on my constituents."

He told MPs the council's building was "badly vandalised afterwards" and Swale residents "cannot access council services" as the building was closed on Thursday.

Leader of the Commons, Sir Alan Campbell MP, told the House it was "simply not acceptable" that local representatives were intimidated.

"Those people, anyone involved in public life, should not be subject to harassment or intimidation for doing their job," he said, "and this House needs to stand united in sending out that message."

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle branded it "an appalling situation" and said "an attack on democracy is not acceptable".

Kent Police said it attended a reported disturbance during the public meeting and "later received reports of criminal damage and a common assault".

There have been no arrests and an investigation is underway, according to a spokesperson.

Swale Borough Council said it would be "supportive of any prosecutions" pursued by police.

Additional reporting by PA Media

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