Gloucester City Council compared to Hitler for curb on free speech

Gloucester City Council has been compared to Adolf Hitler for recent moves which further curtail freedom of speech.

The local authority came under severe criticism last year when it banned the public from putting oral questions to meetings.

Those wishing to ask a question of civic leaders must instead submit their queries in writing several days before the meeting.

This restriction was also imposed on councillors who cannot ask questions without notice and have to send queries in writing in advance of council meetings.

But now the council has also decided to restrict the number of questions elected members can ask to just five.

Councillor Alastair Chambers (Independent, Matson, Robinswood and White City) said the move would silence the most deprived people in Gloucester and was akin to laws implemented in 1930s Germany.

“The people of Matson, White City and Coney Hill are the most deprived people in our city and county. You are silencing these people. Only five people from a ward of 6,500 gets to ask a question. It’s not acceptable.

“We’ve been elected here as members to come here to ask questions of the council and have that right to represent our residents. What worries me is it’s similar to the constitution being changed in 1933 Germany. When the chancellor Adolf Hitler brought in the enabling act.

“He changed the constitution to suit his party. The most deprived areas were not given the opportunity to speak out against the Reich.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingshom and Wotton) said his group told the authority there might be a lot more pressure on officers when they decided to implement requirement for written questions last year.

“Once again, the Lib Dem group was right. You didn’t listen and now you’re trying to amend the way the written questions are working.”

He said he would not oppose the current proposals but would reinstate the opportunity for questions to be made without notice if they gain control of the authority.

Labour group leader Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) said the whole issue could have been avoided and that the Conservatives created the problem in the first place.

“Verbal questions were working. What’s the problem? Why don’t you just admit you don’t want us to ask you any questions at all?”

Councillor Gordon Taylor (C, Abbeymead), who proposed the constitutional changes, said the changes were sensible. He said: “The key recommendations are for members of the public; it has been made clear what they can and can’t ask questions about.

“And also to allow officers to make sure questions are concise. With questions by members we are putting a cap on the numbers to five. There are several other ways for councillors to ask questions of members via other committees, via email or talking to people.”

The council voted to approve the constitutional changes with the exception of Cllr Chambers who voted against.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk