A councillor has launched a legal challenge after being disciplined for raising safeguarding concerns over a sexually explicit display at a local library.
Fife Cook was accused of bringing Devon County Council “into disrepute” after flagging an LGBT event at Exeter Library as a safeguarding concern after it showcased anatomical models of genitalia at its ‘family-friendly’ event.
Cook, who is being supported by the Free Speech Union (FSU), maintains that councillors must be able to challenge council officials over decisions that put children at risk, and has demanded a public apology and damages.
Free speech
Cook said: “If you allow paid officers to stop your representatives from speaking up there’s no point in your representatives being there.
“This has to do with silencing councillors and that’s why the fight’s worthwhile.”
The councillor stated: “The things that were shown in the library were not appropriately aged for the children that were in there.”
He added: “to allow future events like this in property owned by the public will be rightly deemed as reprehensible and we will all be at fault”.
‘Rainbow lanyards’
FSU General Secretary Lord Young of Acton said Fife Cook’s situation “beggars belief”.
He commented: “Surely, the council officials that gave permission for this event to go ahead at a family library – described as a ‘bold celebration for LGBTQIA+ young people and friends’ – are the ones guilty of bringing the council into disrepute?”
He stated: “Councillors must be free to speak up about issues of concern to their constituents without risking being put through a disciplinary process by town hall Sir Humphries wearing rainbow-lanyards.”
Breaking: Pastor convicted for preaching the Gospel in abortion buffer zone