Ugly scenes at a council meeting have been condemned in parliament.
Serious trouble marred a session at Swale House, Sittingbourne, last night with toilets smashed up and councillors targeted.
Water damage caused part of the ceiling of the ground floor of Swale council’s offices in Sittingbourne
Today, the Speaker and leader of the House of Commons have spoken out, saying the disorder was “appalling”.
Problems started when up to 50 people crammed into the council chamber’s public gallery to hear a debate about asylum seekers.
A motion brought by Faversham Lib Dem councillor Hannah Perkin recommended designating Swale as a “district of sanctuary”.
Unhappiness shared online led to people – some wearing balaclavas – to enter the building.
Councillors were verbally abused, an egg was thrown and a member was subjected to homophobic slurs, as protestors repeatedly chanted “we say no”.
Commons’ leader Sir Alan Campbell said: “Let me be very clear, anyone involved in public life should not be subject to harassment or intimidation for doing their job.
“This House needs to stand united in sending out that message.”
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “I hope people respond accordingly to what I find an appalling situation. An attack on democracy is not acceptable.”
The men were speaking after the matter was raised in parliament by Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna this morning.
Swale council HQ was closed today to allow for a clear-up – it is not yet known how much repairs will cost the authority.
Soap dispensers were damaged, and basins were blocked and left to overflow in the Swale council men’s toilet on the first floor
A spokesman said: “We’re currently working to reopen the office tomorrow, following the damage caused by some members of the public.
“Toilets were vandalised, deliberate flooding caused water to pour through the ceiling in several areas, and a lift was also damaged.
“The police are examining the CCTV footage, and we will be supportive of any prosecutions they pursue.”
Cllr Perkin, who has been approached for comment, wanted fellow members to back a scheme which would have meant extra support for those seeking refuge.
These would be people already placed in the borough and would not have meant any extra asylum seekers coming to Swale.
Police were called to Swale council’s offices in East Street in Sittingbourne after vandalism and ‘horrendous’ scenes during a debate about asylum seekers
The motion was seconded by Cllr Alistair Gould (Green), who had the egg thrown at him.
Speaking this afternoon, he told KentOnline that he would back the move again in the face of what he called an “angry mob”.
The long-serving Faversham GP added: “That is what I ought to do and I would go through it again. It is about right and wrong.
“I needed to make a stand for what I believed in, and we should not stay in silence.
“We can’t not debate this because of an angry mob, which does not want us to put out the other side of the argument.
Cllr Alastair Gould
“Given that I have been at protests [over immigration], the protest and behaviour did not surprise me. It was an attempt to disrupt the debate.”
Police have confirmed that officers are carrying out an investigation into criminal damage and a common assault.
There have been no arrests at this stage and detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact the appeal line on 01795 419119, quoting reference 46/211635/25.
People can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or use the online form.
Mr McKenna told KentOnline: “Some of the behaviour in the chamber was absolutely shocking and disgraceful.
MP Kevin McKenna
“[It was] a clear attempt to intimidate councillors as they were debating that motion, and frankly it’s unacceptable.
“It’s a perfectly legitimate thing for councillors to debate a motion like that. That’s what [a council] is there for.
“I would have been happy to have that debate and listen to what people were saying and the arguments for and against.
“We didn’t have that last night, and no one was able to really make up their mind on it because people were intimidated from really saying what they thought, which I think is a shocker and is a massive disservice to people in Swale.
“Across the House, we’ve got lots of colleagues who are horrified by what they saw and really want to send their sympathies to councillors in Swale, council officers and everyone in the community in Swale who’s had this happen to them.
“This is an assault on our community by a few thugs using some politics to frankly sour the really good community relations that we have here in Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Swale as a whole.”