'A day of shame for this council'

Opposition leaders hit out after police called in over protest

- Sentinel Reporter

OPPOSITION leaders have condemned a ‘day of shame’ for Staffordshire County Council as an anti-Reform protest saw police called in.

Tory leader Philip White, top right, said that the authority had been ‘dragged into a dark place’ following May’s elections when Reform UK took control.

And Green councillor Jack Rose said it was a ‘step in the wrong direction’ if racist views and derogatory language were ‘excused’.

They hit out after the first council meeting after leader Ian Cooper, right, resigned following allegations he had made racist posts on X and YouTube, including offensive remarks about Black and Asian public figures.

It came after Cabinet member Peter Mason had previously apologised for making offensive comments about Black women, the police and other groups on X before he was elected a councillor.

And fellow cabinet member Chris Large has denied being responsible for a TikTok account bearing his name endorsing a racist post.