Senior politician: 'Travellers screw everything up' by Dan Bloom

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Calls for councillor in charge of gypsy sites to resign over comments

‘Why don’t they learn to live like everybody else?’

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Knife man jailed

HARD LINE: Cllr David Carr (Con)

Paris Brown – interviewed

Joseph Jones – ‘shame’

faced no further action. Mr Carr’s criticisms of traveller behaviour and lifestyle were made at the council offices five days into his new role. He added: “Are they just people who sit in a caravan and plant themselves wherever they see fit without paying council tax and without cleaning up after themselves? Should one develop a nice strategy for that [...] No. “They live on the fringe of that. They take everything they can get and give very little back so I take a pretty hard line. “Why don’t they learn to live like everybody else does? Why do they take everything, screw it up and move on? If they wanted to be part of society and take their place in society by paying their way, cleaning up after themselves and allowing themselves to be subject to community laws [...] if I could guarantee that and we had a nice brownfield site somewhere that they wouldn’t screw up and we knew for sure

they would take a positive attitude I would be very happy to do that. But as far as I know successes in this area are very very few and far between. Cllr Carr also claimed he had a tonne of coal stolen from him 26 years ago and followed the tyre tracks back to a traveller site, but no prosecution was brought. Mr Jones said: “We feel that Cllr Carr has not one inkling of what the gypsy and traveller community culture is all about. “For over 500 years, we have had bigots like Cllr Carr making sweeping statements that could be taken in a right-wing racist way, inciting racial hatred toward the gypsy and traveller community.” Mr Jones claimed problems only existed because councils were failing in their legal duty to provide sites. “We are now seeking Cllr Carr stands down from his political career for his racist rant. We are seeking a prosecution.”

MPs’ criticism of crime panel MPs have criticised the failure of Kent’s crime commissioner watchdog to properly scrutinise what they said was the “fiasco” of the appointment of the county’s first youth commissioner. Paris Brown, 17, was forced to quit the role after it emerged she had sent offensive tweets that were considered to be racist and homophobic. MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee criticised the way the Kent and Medway Crime Panel dealt with mater. It said that the panel, whose job it is to hold the commissioner to

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Co-chairman Joseph Jones said: “Cllr Carr should hang his head in political shame, using us for political gain. He has a responsibility to every member of society, not a select few.” Last month Paris Brown, who resigned from her post as Kent’s Youth Police and Crime Commissioner after ill-judged tweets, was questioned by special branch police after making derogatory comments about travellers. She

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by Dan Bloom

THE new man in charge of allocating Medway’s traveller sites is facing a call to resign after he said travellers “screw everything up”. Cllr David Carr (Con), a former mayor, made the comments during his first interview as cabinet member for community safety on Medway Council. He was promoted last week to the role, whose duties include strategic planning of traveller sites. When asked for his views on how best to deal with travellers, he said generally he was “against freeloaders”. He added: “I would have no hesitation in strategising a solution for travellers if travellers were going to be responsible community inhabitants, but that in itself is questionable against their name – ‘travellers’. If they’re going to travel they can hardly become part of the integrated community. “They move on and turn it into a building site. They crap all over the place, they p*ss over the field, they throw rubbish all over the place.” His comments have been condemned by the Gypsy Council who have called for him to be prosecuted as well as lose his job.

Friday, May 24, 2013 Medway Messenger (MM)

account, failed to scrutinise the appointment. A report said: “We are concerned that incompetent legal advisers appear to have sought to prevent PCPs [crime panels] from even meeting to scrutinise key and highly questionable decisions by PCCs, for instance the suspension of the Chief Constable in Lincolnshire and the fiasco concerning the appointment of a ‘youth commissioner’ in Kent.” It added: “It is in such circumstances that a panel chair needs to ensure that the crime panel meets urgently. If they fail to do

so, on the basis of wholly inappropriate legal advice or otherwise, the process of local scrutiny of the PCP role falls into disrepute.” The panel is made up of councillors from across the county and lay representatives. It is chaired by Kent county councillor Mike Hill. At its last meeting, the panel was told that it could not question the commissioner about the appointment because, at the time, Paris Brown was the subject of a police investigation into whether the tweets she had posted had broken any laws.

A MAN who went out with a knife in public has been jailed for 16 weeks. Lee Simmons, 26, of Anglesey Close, Chatham, was sentenced by Medway magistrates after he admitted being in possession of a knife in Luton Road, Chatham and being drunk and disorderly.

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Ex-mayor’s gypsy views ‘more like Nick Griffin’ CounCil Career Cllr Carr made the comments in his first interview as a cabinet member. He said: “Why don’t [travellers] learn to live like everybody else does?... They crap all over the place, they p*ss over the field, they throw rubbish all over the place.” A former Chatham Technical School pupil (now Chatham Grammar for Boys), Cllr Carr was elected in 2007 after a long career as an engineer. He worked at Chatham Dockyard, Marconi Electronic Systems in Rochester (now BAE Systems) and oversaw the construction of Grain Power Station. His community safety brief included CCTV, trading standards, community officers, licensing and food hygiene inspections. In the interview he revealed he was once fined by the council’s CCTV car - but that hadn’t stopped him believing in it. “It’s always the same,” he said. “People say ‘I’m only going in for two minutes’, they go in for 35 and they’re surprised to find a yellow sticker.” He also agrees with enforcement at Chatham’s bus station. n Drivers still fall foul of station ban, page 11

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Ruta Nevieriene, top, was last seen on cameras at the M2 services at Farthing Corner, above

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Cllr David Carr, left, whose future is in doubt after comments he made about travellers, has been condemned by ward colleague Cllr Vaughan Hewett, right but supported by many readers Gillingham and Rainham Conservative Association has the power to force him to sit as an independent. Rochester and Strood Conservative Association chairman Cllr Andrew Mackness (Con) said: “Certainly if it was my association I imagine we would take a very dim view.” The chairman of the Gillingham and Rainham Conservative Association, to which the 74-year-old belongs, is considering his options. John Amey said: “We’re aware of what’s been reported and we’re concerned about it, and we’re considering what if anything we should do.” Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con), chairman of the Chatham and Aylesford Conservative Association, added: “Speaking personally, it was a very unfortunate thing to say. “We’ve all got to live together cheek by jowl and we can’t take our absolutely splendid

inter-community relations for granted.” Readers flocked to our website to support Cllr Carr. One, Tom G, wrote: “Cllr Carr is just saying what most of us are thinking. Shame to get suspended for speaking your mind.” Another, Sookie, wrote: “He is a councillor who represents his people, unlike the idiots who suspended him.” The Gypsy Council plans to meet officers at Medway Police Station to make a formal complaint, possibly one of inciting racial hatred. Chairman Joseph Jones, from Sheppey, hit out at the web comments supporting Cllr Carr. He said: “They’re talking about 0.1% of the population, people along the roadside with nowhere to live who are being constantly moved on.” n Letters, page 22. Codgers, page 25.

Missing woman was last seen at M2 service area POLICE have appealed for the public’s help to find a Lithuanian woman who was last seen in Medway. Ruta Nevieriene, 31, was last seen at the Farthing Corner services on the M2 at Gillingham at about 5pm on Saturday. She is believed to be trying to get back to Lithuania and speaks little English. DI Geoff Payne, said: “We are getting increasingly concerned as to Ruta’s whereabouts, as she left the service station abruptly and left some of her belongings behind. “Did you see Ruta at the services, or did you see her leaving? “Anybody with any information, however small, relating to her whereabouts is asked to come forward.” Ruta is about 5ft 6in, with dyed blonde hair and darker roots. She was last seen in a pink top with a blue denim shirt or jacket over the top and blue jeans. Anyone who has information on Ruta’s whereabouts is asked to call police on 101, quoting number 27-0819, or contact Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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by Dan Bloom A FORMER mayor who said travellers “screw everything up” has been compared to the British National Party leader – by his own ward colleague. Cllr David Carr’s political career hangs in the balance after he was suspended as cabinet member for community safety, where roles include allocating traveller sites, the day his remarks were published in the Medway Messenger. In a storm of reaction many readers agreed with him. But his political colleagues did not. Labour condemned the remarks, as did council leader Rodney Chambers. He was still deciding on Cllr Carr’s future yesterday (Thursday) and running the community safety brief in his absence. A decision was expected in days. Cllr Carr’s Rainham North ward colleague Cllr Vaughan Hewett (Con), who has just stood down as mayor of Medway, said: “His comments are more akin to Nick Griffin and the BNP. I’m told that he’s my ward colleague which I find quite distasteful.” He added: “I’ve worn the mayor’s badge for a year, and on it, it has the motto “forward together”. How on earth can you come out with a radical statement like that as a former mayor?” Cllr Chambers must decide whether to retain Cllr Carr as a cabinet member, while the

Friday, May 31, 2013 Medway Messenger (MM)

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Shop window smashed TWO vandals hurled a table through a shop window, causing hundreds of pounds of damage. The two men were spotted by a taxi driver in Station Road, Rainham, picking up a table outside R&R engraving and trophy shop and throwing it through the window. The men had been walking up and down the street and were reported to have been speaking to each other in a foreign language. Keith Knott, who has run

the shop for five years, said: “It happened at about 1.30am on Friday morning. The first I knew about it was when I came in to open up the shop at 8am. “Nothing was taken from inside, just a few trophies were broken, presumably where they had been knocked off the shelves.” The glass has now been replaced, costing Mr Knott hundreds of pounds. Police are investigating. n Art gallery hit by theft, page 12.

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NEWS

Comment WE’RE not going to kick a man when he’s down so David Carr’s resignation should be accepted without further rancour. Yet it has been a sorry episode which most rate as one of the shortest and most disastrous political appointments ever. He’ll have some time to ponder his short tenure with his return to the backbenchers, but we wonder if he might harbour some grudging feeling that he suffered for giving his honest opinion. Some are saying he should have kept his job for speaking up, while others even suggested he should be promoted. They’re wrong of course. Our political masters, should be forthright with their views and be decisive. But he went too far. Had he kept his job, or his mouth shut, we wonder how his dislike of travellers would have manifested itself in terms of actions. Rodney Chambers was right to suspend him on the day our article appeared. Former mayor Vaughan Hewett got it spot on when he pointed out that the mayor’s badge stated ‘Forward Together’, suggesting unity and community cohesion were paramount. Worryingly though, for every politician ready to condemn Cllr Carr there were dozens of people willing to file behind him. There is undoubtedly an issue here that David Carr has clumsily waded into. His successor should take note and attempt to engage with the traveller community because ostracisation will not get us anywhere.

Monday, June 3, 2013 Medway Messenger (MI)

Carr crash: Tory quits over traveller comments THE man in charge of allocating traveller sites has resigned from Medway Council’s cabinet and apologised for a tirade against the traveller community. Cllr David Carr (Con), a former mayor, made the comments to the Medway Messenger during his first interview just days after being appointed as cabinet member for community safety last week. When asked for his views on how best to deal with travellers, he said generally he was “against freeloaders”. He added: “I would have no hesitation in strategising a solution for travellers if travellers were going to be responsible community inhabitants, but that in itself is questionable against their name – ‘travellers’. “If they’re going to travel they can hardly become part of the integrated community. “They move on and turn it into a building site. They crap all over the place, they p*ss over the field, they throw rubbish all over the place.” His comments led to Cllr Carr being compared to British National Party leader Nick Griffin by one of his own colleagues. The Gypsy Council condemned him and said it would be considering legal action. In a statement, Cllr Carr said he had decided to step down from the cabinet “for the good of the council” and apologised for his comments.

Timeline

Cllr David Carr (Con) has resigned

Council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers

Cllr Carr, who remains a councillor, said: “This was not an easy decision, nor one that I have taken lightly, but I consider it the right one. “The language I used about the travelling community was inappropriate and ill-considered and I apologise most profusely for any offence caused. “The role involves significant partnership working and relationship building and I realise that under the current circumstances this would not be possible for me to do. I would like to draw a line under this and focus on my other council duties.” His Tory colleague Peter Hicks assumes the role with immediate effect. Council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “Cllr Carr does realise that the language he used

about the travelling community was unacceptable and offered his resignation for the good of the council and I have accepted it.” The comments were condemned by the Gypsy Council, who called for him to be prosecuted as well as lose his job. Mr Carr’s criticisms of traveller behaviour and lifestyle were made at the council offices five days into his new role. He added: “Are they just people who sit in a caravan and plant themselves wherever they see fit without paying council tax and without cleaning up after themselves? Should one develop a nice strategy for that... no. “They live on the fringe of that. They take everything they can get and give very little back so I take a pretty hard line. “Why don’t they learn to live

16-day Cabinet career: n Wednesday, May 15: Cllr Carr is appointed community safety chief at the council’s annual meeting n Friday, May 24: The Medway Messenger publishes his first interview in which he tells reporter Dan Bloom that travellers “screw everything up “ and make other strong remarks about their behaviour. n Friday, May 24: Hours after publication his leader Rodney Chambers suspended him from the position n Friday, May 31: Cllr Carr resigned offering a “profuse apology”. His resignation is accepted by Cllr Chambers. like everybody else does? Why do they take everything, screw it up and move on?” Labour group leader Vince Maple said: “Of course he is right to resign. I just think it is unfortunate that it has taken him more than a week to apologise and realise the gravity of his statement. “He should be thinking seriously about his position and his conservative association should be asking whether it is happy to be associated with those comments.”

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Police appeal WITNESSES are being sought after a man in his 70s died after crashing his car in Twydall. The pensioner, thought to have collapsed at the wheel of a silver Ford Fiesta, hit a road sign in Wingham Close at 4pm last Thursday. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police sealed off roads in the immediate area, including Beechings Way, Goudhurst Road and Milstead Road. One witness said he heard a crash and then cries for help. n Anyone who can help should call the police serious collision unit on 01622 798538.

Motorist hurt A DRIVER was taken to hospital with a suspected back injury yesterday (Sunday) after colliding with three parked cars in Rainham. Paramedics were called to the accident in Moor Street at about 11.30am.

Gift to hospice PEOPLE using the Wisdom Hospice have been given a little extra comfort thanks to Gillingham Lions Club. The club, which has about 20 members, has given two recliner chairs to the hospice in High Bank, Rochester. Lions club members Bob Woodrow, Chris Iles and Gina Druker presented the chairs to Martyn Reeves, CEO of the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice.

in friday’s paper

Two illegal immigrants caught in raids and sent back home TWO men have been thrown out of Britain after immigration officers discovered them working illegally in an Indian restaurant and fish and chip shop. A 24-year-old from Bangladesh who was in breach of visa conditions after a raid at the Twydall

Tandoori, Twydall Green was removed last Wednesday. Home Office enforcement staff caught a 27-year-old from India working illegally at the Marlowe Fish Bar in Wells Road, Strood. He was sent back to his home country on Friday, May 24.

Both businesses have been handed penalty notices and to avoid paying a fine of up to £10,000 for each employee, they must provide evidence that the correct pre-employment checks were made on the men. Bosses are expected to see a

Close shave for cancer care unit

Tom Fuller is having his hair, eyebrows and beard shaved off to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Care Unit

A BIKER had his hair, beard and eyebrows shaved off to raise money for the cancer unit at Medway Maritime Hospital. Tom Fuller wanted to thank staff at the Macmillan Cancer Care Unit at the hospital in Windmill Road, Gillingham, for the care they have given to his son Robert, 31, who is suffering from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The 53-year-old, from Strood, was shaved at the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club’s clubhouse at Angel Farm, off the Ratcliffe Highway in Hoo. A number of bikers from Medway Renegades and Hells Angels motorcycle clubs presented a cheque for £1,200 to nurses from the ward.

passport or Home Office document. Louise Whiteoak, a Home Office spokesman, said: “We are carrying out operations across Kent to track down people who are breaking immigration law. “Those who are here illegally

should be in no doubt that they will be found, arrested and removed from the country.” n Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Kent can contact intelkent@ homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

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Friday, June 7, 2013 Medway Messenger (MM)

Complaint says remarks incite racial tension

Carr quits in gypsy row, now he’s set to be quizzed by police A SENIOR Tory who lost his job after saying travellers “screw everything up” is to be questioned by police. Former Mayor of Medway Cllr David Carr (Con), who was suspended and then resigned from the council’s cabinet, apologised for his tirade. But the matter may be far from over after the Gypsy Council has reported Cllr Carr to the police. Chairman Joseph Jones said: “The Gypsy Council’s complaint is that Cllr Carr has ... incited racial tension through the use of the media and his position as a public servant. That could impact on the local community. “He still retains a seat on the council and is carrying on in his public political life. Our members would also like him to resign from his political life. “His comments were aimed at the gypsy community in general. Not the perpetrators or the individuals that behave in such a negative way.” A police spokesman confirmed they have received a complaint and officers will be speaking to Cllr Carr. It comes two months after Paris Brown, who stood down as youth police commissioner, was questioned by Special Branch officers for twitter remarks about “pikeys and fags”. The Rainham north ward councillor made the comments to the Medway Messenger during his first interview just days after being appointed as cabinet member for community safety. Part of his portfolio was being in charge of allocating traveller sites. When asked for his views on how best to deal with travellers, he said generally he was “against

David Carr resigned from the council cabinet after his tirade

Joseph Jones, chairman of the Gypsy Council which has complained to police

freeloaders”. He added: “I would have no hesitation in strategising a solution for travellers if travellers were going to be responsible community inhabitants, but that in itself is questionable against their name – ‘travellers’. “If they’re going to travel they can hardly become part of the integrated community. “They move on and turn it into a building site. They crap all over the place, they p*ss over the field, they throw rubbish all over the place.” His comments led to Cllr Carr being compared to British National Party leader Nick Griffin by one of his own colleagues. In a statement, Cllr Carr said he had decided to step down from the cabinet “for the good of the council” and apologised for his comments.

Cllr Carr, who remains a councillor, said: “The language I used about the travelling community was inappropriate and ill-considered and I apologise most profusely for any offence caused. “The role involves significant partnership working and relationship building and I realise that under the current circumstances this would not be possible for me to do. I would like to draw a line under this and focus on my other council duties.” His Tory colleague Peter Hicks has been appointed as his replacement. Council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “Cllr Carr does realise that the language he used about the travelling community was unacceptable and offered his resignation for the good of the council and I have accepted it.”

Poignant route for final journey HE WAS clever, business-minded and had a maturity that belied his 22 years. But Matthew Garrett was cruelly cut down in his prime, suffering a heart attack that left his family, friends and work colleagues grief-stricken. They will come together to mourn the popular young motorracing fanatic and hard-working businessman at his funeral today (Friday) at Rochester Cathedral. He lived with his family, including older brother Christopher, in Priestfields Rochester, and ran the family business, Rochester Lettings in Rochester High Street. In a poignant farewell the funeral procession will pass along the High Street so the people who knew him can pay their respects.

Matthew Garrett with his girlfriend, Scarlett Cobley The service is being held at 1pm and his family say anyone who knew him is welcome to go along. Matthew is being cremated at

Medway Crematorium which is for family members only. His parents say that if anyone would like to make a donation to the The Marcus Rutherford Foundation, they would welcome that as Matthew was a big campaigner for the cause. Dad Nigel said last week: “He was on top of the world. He did have a very happy 22 years.” Christopher added: “My brother was my best friend, it was like we were twins.” He also leaves mum Laura and girlfriend Scarlett Cobley. To donate, send a cheque to the foundation at PO Box 325, Longfield, DA3 7JU or email michael@ marcusrutherfordfoundation. com for other details of how to make a donation.

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Friday, June 14, 2013 Medway Messenger (MM)

INSIDE Stamp wants authority as gILLINgham

Living in car Find out why this couple are having to sleep in a Ford Mondeo

PagE 9 chatham

Oh yes he is ... He performed in front of Simon Cowell and 13 million viewers - now he’s heading for Chatham

PagE 11 PrINcES ParK

Celebrations An MP, police chief and a former head were among the guests as a primary marked its 25th birthday

PagES 46&47 SPort

Club of the week We pay a visit to Frindsbury Cricket Club’s third team

PagE 88

independents join Labour when friends were foes

by Alan McGuinness and Dan Bloom amcguinness@thekmgroup.co.uk

The impotence of independence drove two councillors to the Labour camp on Medway council, they admitted this week. Pat Cooper and Andy Stamp’s defections in Gillingham North have swelled the opposition group’s numbers to 17 – although they are still well behind the ruling Conservatives. It means there is no one sitting on the independent benches. Cllr Stamp was previously deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats and stood for the party in Gillingham and Rainham at the 2005 and 2010 elections. But he fell out with the party in 2010 after a bitter row with ex-colleagues Cathy Sutton and Maureen Ruparel amid claims of bullying, harassment and misuse of power. The pair were subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing. Cllr Stamp said: “One of the main reasons why I left the Lib Dems was because I disagreed with the coalition government, even though there were other local issues that contributed as well. “For me it’s a natural progression and a combination of factors. It was getting frustrating as two independent councillors not achieving as much as we could as part of a larger stronger group of people. “The Labour party’s values are in line with my own values that I’ve had since I was a teenager.” Cllr Cooper said they had been considering the move for a while and it “reached a head when Paul Clark was selected to fight Gillingham and Rainham”. “We had a big discussion about it and said yes, we would like to join the Labour group, because

Andy Stamp

Cllr Pat Cooper we have been voting with them on quite a few issues including the budget. “It’s because of all the cuts and the welfare reforms. “In a ward like ours where we have people going through some tremendously tricky financial times we have to so something about it.” Cllr Cooper was a Liberal Democrat for life until quitting three years ago over the coalition and tuition fees, making this her

Predictably, political opponents were rushing to dredge up comments made in the past by the newly-welcomed members of Labour’s brethren. These days, Twitter and Facebook accounts are scoured and Google searches are carried out in the search for embarrassing ammunition. Cllr Stamp’s praise of former MP - now candidate - Paul Clark, for example, is in stark contrast to comments he made when he was a Liberal Democrat. A Twitter account for Cllr

third group in as many years. She said: “This time we’re here to stay, definitely. We will probably get stick from the Conservatives but hey-ho, that’s political life.” Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple said: “It is great to see two community activists like Andy and Pat join the team. “I know they will continue to work hard for the residents of Gillingham North and I look forward to supporting them in fighting against the attacks on services for the community they represent.” Writing in today’s Messenger Medway Lib Dem chairman Tony Jeacock said: “I can only assume that this is an attempt to improve their chances of election in 2015.

Stamp was deleted this week, but not before a number of the messages were dug up and circulated on the site. One of them, dated April 24 2010 said: “Labours dirty tricks against the Lib Dems and me will not fool the residents of Gillingham and Rainham. Shame on you @ paulclark.” Another, addressed to new colleague Cllr Tristan Osborne, read: “Medway Labour delivers? I have seen your Medway line up! Scraping the barrel...”

‘I can only assume that this is an attempt to improve their chances of election in 2015’ “Can the public really have confidence in anyone whose principles swing with the tides?” The news means Labour now has 17 councillors. The Conservatives have 35, while the Lib Dems have three.

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Cllr David Carr

Tory faces no charges over gypsy claims Tory councillor David Carr has been given the all-clear by his party’s local association and police after he criticised travellers. The 74-year-old was spoken to by an officer after a complaint from the Gypsy Council following his remarks that travellers “screw everything up ... and crap all over the place”. His interview with the Medway Messenger cost him his new job as Medway council cabinet member for community safety but he has learned he will face no charges. Cllr Carr will also remain a councillor and a member of the Gillingham and Rainham Conservative Association after he made a public apology. Chairman John Amey said: “The decision of our executive committee is we’re not going to take any further action against Cllr Carr.” However, Cllr Carr could still face a hearing before Medway Council’s code of conduct committee. Gypsy Council chairman Joseph Jones said his members intended to make a formal complaint to the committee. Cllr Carr’s comments were previously denounced as “more akin to Nick Griffin and the BNP” by his Rainham North ward colleague Cllr Vaughan Hewett. But many of our readers agreed with him. Shirley Knott said: “My mother taught me to ‘tell the truth and shame the devil’. Nowadays it’s ‘tell the truth, lose your job and get castigated in the press’. Who says free speech is alive and kicking?” Cllr Peter Hicks (Con) has taken over as cabinet member for community safety. Cllr Carr said he had no further comment. n Letters - pages 22-23.

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