The following motion has been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40 by Cllr Paul Rowling:-
"During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 the Home Secretary James Cleverly was heard making a derogatory comment about Stockton-on-Tees. Despite initially saying that he did not say anything inappropriate the Home Secretary proceeded to claim that the comment was aimed at the MP for Stockton North. As reported in the Sunday Mirror on Sunday 26th November, Artificial Intelligence has been used to clean up the recording. The cleaned-up recording proves that the comment was indeed aimed at our town.
The comment is an outrage and an insult to all those that call Stockton-on-Tees home. Stockton-on-Tees, made up of Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham, Yarm, Egglescliffe, Norton, Ingleby Barwick, and surrounding villages, is a proud area with a rich history. The Home Secretary’s comments could not be a more inaccurate description of our area.
Although the Home Secretary has apologised for “unparliamentary language” in the House of Commons, no such apology has been made to the residents of Stockton-on-Tees. We the members of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council strongly condemn the comments and call for the Home Secretary to make a full apology to the people of Stockton-on-Tees. We resolve to write to the Home Secretary to invite him to come to Stockton to apologise. We also extend an invitation to the MPs for Stockton North and Stockton South to jointly sign this letter."
Minutes:
The following motion had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40, moved by Councillor Paul Rowling, seconded by Councillor Eileen Johnson:-
"During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 the Home Secretary James Cleverly was heard making a derogatory comment about Stockton-on-Tees. Despite initially saying that he did not say anything inappropriate the Home Secretary proceeded to claim that the comment was aimed at the MP for Stockton North. As reported in the Sunday Mirror on Sunday 26th November, Artificial Intelligence has been used to clean up the recording. The cleaned-up recording proves that the comment was indeed aimed at our town.
The comment is an outrage and an insult to all those that call Stockton-on-Tees home. Stockton-on-Tees, made up of Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham, Yarm, Egglescliffe, Norton, Ingleby Barwick, and surrounding villages, is a proud area with a rich history. The Home Secretary’s comments could not be a more inaccurate description of our area.
Although the Home Secretary has apologised for “unparliamentary language” in the House of Commons, no such apology has been made to the residents of Stockton-on-Tees. We the members of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council strongly condemn the comments and call for the Home Secretary to make a full apology to the people of Stockton-on-Tees. We resolve to write to the Home Secretary to invite him to come to Stockton to apologise. We also extend an invitation to the MPs for Stockton North and Stockton South to jointly sign this letter."
Members debated the motion.
At this point and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.65 Councillor Paul Rowling requested that a recorded vote be taken; which was supported by at least a quarter of the members present:-
Members in favour of the motion:-
Cllr Stefan Barnes, Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Michelle Bendelow, Cllr Marc Besford, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Robert Cook, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Cllr Richard Eglington, Cllr Lisa Evans, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr Nathan Gale, Cllr Clare Gamble, Cllr Ray Godwin, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Mick Moore, Cllr Steve Nelson, Cllr Ross Patterson, Cllr Paul Rowling, Cllr Norma Stephenson OBE, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Ted Strike, Cllr Marilyn Surtees, Cllr Sylvia Walmsley, Cllr Paul Weston, Cllr Katie Weston and Cllr Barry Woodhouse.
Members against the motion:-
Cllr Diane Clarke OBE, Cllr John Coulson, Cllr Jason French, Cllr Alex Griffiths, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr Stefan Houghton, Cllr Shakeel Hussain, Cllr Niall Innes, Cllr Sufi Mubeen, Cllr Stephen Richardson, Cllr Tony Riordan, Cllr Susan Scott, Cllr Vanessa Sewell, Cllr Andrew Sherris, Cllr Hugo Stratton, Cllr Emily Tate, Cllr Jim Taylor, Cllr Laura Tunney, Cllr Hilary Vickers and Cllr Marcus Vickers.
Abstentions:-
Cllr Alan Watson and Cllr Sally Ann Watson.
The motion was carried by 29 votes for to 20 votes against and 2 abstentions.