to go to the press?

[ANonna]

I have received an email that was sent by a local councillor, complaining about immigration, and specifically 'ragheads'. WIBU to contact the press, as well as making a formal complaint?

But Private Eye wouldn't do that, would they?

I'm not doing any tweeting or anything. Just Private Eye. Maybe.

Some recipients have asked for an apology/retraction. None so far.

Advice on what to do is totally different depending whether you're another councillor, an officer or a member of the public. If you're an officer, going to the press may breach your own code of conduct. Have other officers complained to the standards committee? If not, contact the monitoring officer and say you want to.

It isn't hard to contact press anonymously. Gmail email to local press, Guardian, Private Eye. CC your CEX, head of media, council leader and local party leader. That will be enough to get it taken seriously.

No political party's "crisis management" ever works, it is complete paranoia IMO to be reluctant to send to the political party. It really doesn't matter a damn what they say, if he's put his name to something bad, it will look exactly as bad as it is. The purpose of sending it to the party is purely to check it's genuine.

But all that seems to be unnecessary anyway because now you say there is already a process going on and he's been asked to apologise? So, is it the case that the process isn't working? Or do you just think it's not enough? Or not open enough?

Basically, what is it you want to achieve by going to the press?

I'm not sure what it would achieve. There seems to be local tolerance of his attitude, and it is wrong. Local press would possibly give him even more standing locally. There are elections coming up. Not sure if it would help or hinder his cause.

I want his disgusting attitude dealt with. Not convinced that is happening through the usual channels.

You can whistleblow to Private Eye though. They'll keep you anonymous.

Have emailed Private Eye. Hope it was the right thing to do.

Private Eye are good.

Private Eye are excellent, actually... they feature my local authority quite a lot, particularly at one point in time... when I happen to know a lot of the information reaching them was coming from officers inside the authority so sick and worried about what was happening there.

Private Eye run bullshit made up stories just like the rest of them. But are one of the least worst.

Careful if you're an officer. Contacting the press can be an immediate sacking.

Party HQ may well throw him out of the party (if not bnp of course).

Ask the person.

I have had my emails hacked and it has sent people random links which I knew nothing off. If you go public, and the person really isn't the blame it could ruien his career as well as his life, people don't take to kindly to things like that.

The person has been spoken to about it. They did not deny it, and refused to withdraw its sentiment. Anyhow, it's done.

How fortunate that this occurred at exactly the time of the local elections.

What would happen to him - well if he represents one of the major mainstream parties, he's likely to be suspended, investigated and potentially have the party whip withdrawn (I.e kicked out of the party). Depending on the context the might also possibly be a police investigation if he was inciting racial hatred. Otherwise, everyone would fine out what a racist tossed he is, and either pressure be put on him to resign as a councillor, or at worst not re-elect him next time. I'm with the go ahead and expose him camp, local councillor a should represent their whole community.

everyone in the army call them ragheads I think.

So what? Let it go? The guy's not in the army, he's a civvy. He needs to shape up.

Tackling racism, sexism, and a few other isms in the Army is a whole different matter, and irrelevant to this poor excuse for a man.

yanbu name and shame the bugger, if it is BNP or UKIP they will expect it from them if it another party they will have a field day whoever it is do it,