A Calderdale councillor who is being investigated over “unacceptable” comments he made about the Hillsborough disaster and the Lawrence inquiry has been backed by his own party.
Councillor Roger Taylor, who represents Northowram and Shelf for the Conservatives, has come under fire after an e-mail he sent to Bradford-based human rights charity JUST West Yorkshire.
It followed the organisation’s call for West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison to resign in the wake of the findings of the Hillsborough report. Coun Taylor made reference to the Hillsborough findings as being “overloaded with politically-correct language” like the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, something he also labelled “a joke in itself”.
Councillor Stephen Baines, leader of the authority’s Conservative group, said Coun Taylor has not been suspended over the issue.
“He was not acting as a councillor when he sent the e-mail. I believe that under the current rules regarding conduct, he has nothing to answer,” he said.
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