Ealing Council Will Not Be Silenced | |||||
No minutes' silence for Mrs Thatcher despite attempts
An attempt to hold a minute's silence in Ealing in memory of Margaret Thatcher was derailed last night. The Conservative group (and UKIP representative) hoped it would happen before Ealing's full Council meeting (Tuesday 16th August) but it had been refused on the grounds that no previous deceased PM's had been recognised in this way and Mrs Thatcher had no connection to the Borough. However, last night the Conservatives attempted to stand up and carry out the minutes' silence, without permission. Jon Ball, the Liberal Democrat Councillor For Ealing Common, says he had to put a stop to it. He told the chamber: UKIP representative Councillor Benjamin Dennehy says it was a disgrace: "I noticed on the agenda that no mention of a minute's silence had been added. I decided to ask under the Urgency rules of Council why no such mark of respect was being held. I was told by the outgoing Mayor that my question would be answered later in the proceedings. I got no such answer. The Tories did however stage a stand up minute of silence, which UKIP supported. Labour and Lib Dems refused to take part and even harangued those that participated. It was a disgrace.
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