Call for Mayor to clarify ethnic wedding comment that could be interpreted as discriminatory

A WATCHDOG group that helps and supports ethnic communities in Thurrock has called on borough Mayor Cllr Sue Little to clarify a statement which could be interpreted as a racial slur.

Cllr Little, who lives in Orsett and also represents the village on the council, is campaigning against a marquee used for functions on the Orsett Showground.

The Woodlands Marquee is particularly popular for hosting Asian, particularly Indian, weddings which can be rather raucous affairs and which have adopted what has now become an established tradition of the groom arriving in fast, expensive sports or luxury cars. The bride and groom leave in similar fashion.

It is the vehicles which are predominantly the cause of Cllr Little’s concern. And, signing herself as ‘Madam Mayor’ she has written to the council objecting to a retrospective planning application for the marquee and has included a remark that has shocked people copied in on her letter to Director of Place, Mark Bradbury.

Cllr Little says: “It is not just the noise they make in the showground but when they leave it. The reason they have them is to look flash and make huge amounts of noise and no availability of elephants.”

The reference to elephants has been interpreted as a derogatory remark and is compounded by the fact that Cllr Little – who has admitted stopping cars trying to attend the wedding and engaging in exchanges with drivers – repeatedly being heard to describe the Indian participants and guests as ‘you people’.

She is also reported to have been waving her council identity badge and telling people she ‘can get this shut down’.

Cllr Little, who lives nearby on Herga Hyll, has confirmed to Nub News that she has been out and had direct contacts with people attending the events, to the extent of standing in the entrance, blocking cars attempting to get in and causing traffic backups on Rectory Road. Ironically, at one recent confrontation she also confronted passengers in cars trying to get to a wedding at nearby Orsett Hall Hotel.

She also defends her comments to Mr Bradbury, copied in among others to Clive Folkard secretary of Orsett Showground Ltd, telling Nub News: “It is not racist to say that, it is a tradition. They used to have white horses and elephants at weddings, now they can’t have them because they are banned, it’s fast cars!”

However, that is not a view shared by ThurrockBME (Black, Minority and Ethnic), an organisation set up to ensure that the minority ethnic groups of Thurrock are represented at a strategic level with key policy makers. 

One of its directors is former Conservative councillor Tunde Ojetola, himself a former borough mayor who knows first hand the responsibility for making appropriate statements when acting as the borough’s first citizen.

Having seen Cllr Little’s comments BME agrees it could be interpreted as offensive and issued the following statement: “Discrimination and racism are unjust and harmful practices that violate the dignity and rights of human beings.

“They are based on the false assumption that some groups of people are superior or inferior to others based on their skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc. Discrimination and racism can lead to violence, oppression, exclusion, and suffering for millions of people around the world.

“ThurrockBME Group has been made aware of a statement attributed to the Mayor which could be perceived as discriminatory.

“ThurrockBME Group strongly oppose discrimination and racism in any form. We have therefore called on the Mayor to clarify the statement and ask her to reassure all residents that Thurrock continues to strive to treat all residents equally.

“We need to learn from different cultures and perspectives and to respect the choices and preferences of others. These include how we celebrate weddings, religious traditions and festivals, etc. Understanding and respect for all cultures is the key to living in harmony.”

Thurrock Council issued the following statement: “Thurrock Council is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct from our councillors and officers.

NB News article curtesy of Thurrock News Nub