Stockport MP Navendu Mishra has insisted he ‘condemns all form of abuse and discrimination’ after coming under renewed pressure to denounce an abusive message in a WhatsApp group including members of his own staff. There was an outcry after the message, in which a woman was compared to Jabba the Hutt by a trade union official, was shared on social media and an unedited version was seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
The row prompted the council’s Labour group to launch an investigation as some of the staff in the group are also elected members - albeit there is no evidence they engaged with the insulting post or added anything untoward. Labour Councillor Andy Sorton - who has represented Brinnington and Central ward since 2012 - called for Mr Mishra to issue a statement, but the MP initially said he was unable to comment on internal affairs.
However, he has now given a statement to the LDRS after Coun Sorton again urged him to speak out about the ‘awful, awful abuse’ at the latest meeting of the full council. Mr Mishra said: "For the avoidance of doubt, I condemn all forms of abuse and discrimination.
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“Civility is an important part of our democracy and anybody who knows me, knows that I am scrupulously polite, even to people I disagree with.” Mr Mishra said he was ‘surprised and disappointed’ at recent media coverage that ‘sought to associate me with these issues’.
He added: "Individuals should be careful not to make potentially libellous and defamatory statements, especially elected representatives. As previously stated, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on internal Labour Party or staffing matters."
Coun Sorton’s most recent comments came as he answered a question from resident Karl Wardlaw during Thursday night’s meeting at the town hall. The Labour councillor told the meeting that the woman who had been mocked was a constituent in his Brinnington and Central ward.c
And he spoke of his anger over ‘the fact a middle-aged man can still make derogatory and offensive remarks to a woman and apparently get away with it’. “This is not about politics, this is values that are on trial here,” he said.
“I have to tell you that this woman lives in the same community as the member of parliament - and they want that member of parliament to come out and condemn it and they want all the elected members to come out and condemn it. Because, if you do not condemn it, then you condone it - and that’s a totally unacceptable position to be [in].
“Everything that Labour believes in, everything that trade unions believe in is on trial with this in Stockport.” Coun Sorton said he refused to ‘sit silent’ even if there were consequences for speaking out.
He also urged his colleagues to ‘stand with the victim of this abuse, and call on the MP to make a statement condemning this’.“Because the community won’t have it and I don’t believe the people in Stockport will have this,” he said.
“We are going back 30,40,50 years - and it’s unacceptable.” Coun Sorton's comments were also echoed at the meeting by colleagues including Coun Tom McGee, deputy Labour group leader, and Coun David Meller, shadow cabinet member for economy and regeneration.
Stockport full council met at the town hall on Thursday night (October 6).
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