Councillor apologises after email gaffe

A RED-faced councillor has been forced to apologise to a colleague he accused of “walking out” just before a crucial vote was taken.

Rebel councillor Kevin Bennett (pictured above) – a former Labour member of Warrington Borough Council who now represents the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) said he was “disgusted” when Labour’s Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands got up a left a meeting just before a vote was taken on a motion condemning the government’s controversial trade union bill.

After the meeting, Cllr Bennett sent an email addressed to “all councillors, officers and trade unionists.”
In it he thanked everyone who had supported the motion.

Billy Lines-Rowlands

He then said: “I said that defeating this Bill will take a mobilisation of the entire labour movement, regardless of our differences.

“I hoped that every Labour councillor would support this motion. Therefore I was disgusted to watchCllr Billy Lines-Rowlands stage a ‘walk out’ just as we were about to vote.

“He left the chamber and came straight back in after the vote had finished.

“I hope Councillor Lines-Rowlands will now explain to all members and unions why he couldn’t support the Labour Party’s own motion and send a message to this Tory government.”

Cllr Lines-Rowlands responded with an email stating: “I could not vote for the motion as I had to respond to an urgent text,  then phone call,  informing me of a family member’s death.

“I’m sorry that the misfortune in my family disgusts Cllr Bennett and I’m sure the inconvenience caused by my family member dying has affected more than my own immediate family,  so Kevin… I’m sorry – I will be sure to let my family members know you are disgusted when we (my family) meet up later today.”

Cllr Bennett replied with an email:  “Really sorry Billy, I  had no idea that it was so serious. Sincere apologies.”