Far right councillor axed after missing meetings
gambleram John Gamble
BOSSES at a South Yorkshire council have removed a far-right councillor from the authority after he failed to attend regular meetings.
John Gamble, who represented Brinsworth and Catcliffe, was elected in the seat for the British National Party in May 2008.
But the 54-year-old, who later switched to the England First Party, has not attended for more than six months.
During his time in office, he was able to claim £12,130 each year in allowances, the council said.
Mr Gamble, who won his seat from then Labour Mayor Allan Jackson by 61 votes, was due for re-election next May.
He switched from the BNP to the England First Party in June 2009 before joining the openly-racist National Front in March last year, giving the far-right party its first elected representative for 35 years.
Announcing his second change of allegiance, Mr Gamble told The Star he had ‘jumped ship’ to the NF because he wanted to join a ‘more active’ organisation.
When some of the NF’s recorded views were put to him, the Catcliffe and Brinsworth councillor said: “You have caught me somewhat flat-footed. I am not aware of the severity of these opinions.”
He added: “I am not racist, but on the far right.
“How can I be racist when I have had several coloured girlfriends?”
But Mr Gamble lost his position on the council after a lack of attendance led to complaints from figures, including former Brinsworth Labour councillor Reg Littleboy.
Mr Littleboy said: “He is also being reported to the standards committee for abusing staff.
“He is a disgrace to Brinsworth and Catcliffe.”
A Rotherham Council spokeswoman for the borough council confirmed that Mr Gamble had been automatically disqualified from the council under the 1972 Local Government Act for failing to attend any meetings for six months.
She said: “The disqualification will be officially reported to council at its meeting next Wednesday and the vacancy publicised shortly after.
“However, there will be no by-election for the vacant position because the vacancy has arisen within six months of the election for the seat in May, 2012.”
Mr Gamble said: “I don’t wish to comment.”
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Morlockian
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 10:01 AM#4, Waywoodcringe, we should also do what you suggest to Nick Griffin.
Morlockian
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 10:00 AMGive it a month and he'll have joined UKIP.
all_seeing_eyes
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 09:13 AMwhat a joke this guys is! Nothing more than a opportunist. Shows the type of people that live in Brinsworth and Catcliffe to be fooled so easily by someone who changes political allegiances every other day.
Woodseats Sammy
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 08:45 AMArticle by Phil Turner in the 'Rotherham Advertiser' last Friday was much better than this mash-up. Another example of dire Star 'journalism': Woman hurt in collision with tram in city centre .....
waywoodwind
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 02:31 AMshould be made to pay all his pay back ,,,,, then charge him as an enemy of the state
crystalpeaksman
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 12:22 AMIf you cant be botherd to attend council business you shouldnt have stood for election in the first place
Rotherham Politics
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 01:40 PMUnder the Local Government Act 1972 section 85 any councillor is deselected automatically after failing to attend any neeting of the council for a period of 6 months. RMBC had another councillor who escaped deselection, Gavin Sharp, in spite of failing to attend for over a year. Presumably, Reg Fatboy, didn't have a vendetta against him as he seems to have had against Gamble. There again it might have been the fact that Sharp was a magistrate - no, surely not! NIce to see The Star have managed to re-work The Rotherham Advertiser's story and pulled a few quotes out the morgue files. Such professional journalism!
freedom
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 10:53 AMCan any councillor be removed for not turning up to meetings? What attendance rate do they need?
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