It has been alleged that leader of Hertsmere Borough Council Jeremy Newmark had to be calmed down by police after an unprovoked outburst at a Shenley meeting with residents.
Councillor Natalie Susman, who organised the Shenley Public Meeting on October 12, told RadlettNews: “A resident asked a question about how the defunding of PCSOs would affect our community and before even waiting to hear an answer, Newmark started screaming ‘Fake News’, over and over.”
“There were three police officers in the room and a PCSO who could have answered the question, but instead they ended up having to restrain Newmark.
“I feel really sad that a meeting for residents was disrupted by the leader of the Council,” she said.
Residents of Shenley had congregated at the Public Meeting to find out more about recent proposals to develop green belt land around the Shenley area. Invited to submit questions in advance, the Meeting presented an opportunity to speak with political figures like the Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP and Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd about policies and development proposals likely to affect the community.
“It’s a fact that the defunding of PCSOs is going to have an impact,” stated Cllr Susman. “The question wasn’t an attempt to attack Newmark in some kind of political move – it was simply asked by a concerned resident.
“Most of the people in the room had no idea who Jeremy Newmark even was.
“He and his Deputy Chris Myers spent the evening huffling and heckling to the point that after the outburst, police officers in the room had to tell Newmark to calm down.”
Referring to the heckling stunt recently performed upon Sir Keir Starmer, she added: “All that was missing was the glitter.”
In response, Newmark told RadlettNews: “Sadly, the parish council associated itself with a politically partisan meeting.
“The meeting was set to address resident concerns about a range of issues that are in the purview of the Borough Council. Not a single representative of the administration actually running the Borough Council was invited to join the panel.
“Unfortunately, the chair of the meeting initially sought to prevent us from speaking.
“Nevertheless, we firmly and respectfully exercised our right to free speech at a public meeting to ensure that the residents present were able to receive accurate and authoritative information on the matters under discussion.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Newmark
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