Labour and Lib Dem councillors team up to call for Conservatives to expel Denis Knowles, accused of making “homophobic comment” on Facebook

Apr 21 2010 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

Cllr Davies told the meeting of Wirral’s full council at Wallasey Town Hall: “If we let such remarks to go uncensured it’s a slippery slope and gives carte blanche for these kinds of comments to be ignored.”

Labour group leader Steve Foulkes described Cllr Knowles’ comments as an “unforgivable error of judgement”. He was also critical of a letter sent out by Cllr Knowles to residents explaining his suspension.

An amendment by the Lib Dems was included with the Labour notice of motion, and Cllr Stuart Kelly told the meeting: “We are elected to positions of responsibility and must be held to higher standards – we must show leadership.”

Cllr Knowles was not present at the meeting, having offered his apologies saying he had to stay with his wife who was recovering from a life-threatening illness.

Leasowe Conservative councillor Ian Lewis defended his colleague saying “a silly comment on Facebook is not homophobia” and claimed Labour “are still bitter” about him leaving their party.