Councillor says comments about people in Saddleworth were ‘banter’

A councillor is in hot water after he suggested in a ‘spoof video’ men from Saddleworth have sex with animals because the women in the area are ‘ugly’. Independent councillor Marc Hince apologised for any offence caused.

The Oldham councillor, who represents Shaw, made the comments in a back and forth between himself and a man who goes by Ricky JT Briggs on social media. Mr Briggs styles himself as ‘the King of Saddleworth’ and claims he ‘could easily be the hardest man in Oldham’.

The LDRS understands the videos are meant in jest but in what he said was a joke appeal to Mr Briggs on a Facebook page called The Traveller Bible, Coun Hince said: “There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind you’re the king of Saddleworth. That’s not in dispute. We all know what they’re like up in Saddleworth.”

Coun Hince then describes the area’s men using a term widely considered to be homophobic, which the LDRS has chosen not to repeat. He goes onto to say they want to have sex with their animals ‘because the women are that ugly’.

The councillor said he was ‘asked to do a spoof video on a well-known traveller website which is banter-based’ and the comments were not meant to offend anyone. He also suggested some of the ‘right wing platforms’ criticising him were being hypocritical for not criticising other political figures for their controversial remarks.

Responding to Liberal Democrat criticism over using a homophobic slur, Coun Hince said: “Clearly this was not meant in those terms, and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. To be clear it was meant as banter and said in that context.”

However people living in and around Uppermill in Saddleworth failed to see the humour. People told the LDRS the comments were rude, naïve, an embarrassment, sensationalist, idiotic, and showed a lack of manners.

Lisa Anderson said: “I feel quite offended living in Uppermill myself and it’s simply not true is it? It’s just a bit of a childish thing to say.”

She added: “I would have thought that somebody who is a councillor would have known better to even say that as a joke. I am astounded that somebody said that, especially a councillor.”

Julie Hilton said: “It’s a very disparaging comment. I don’t know why. What have people in Saddleworth done to them, particularly the ladies?”, adding: “I think he needs to be very careful about what he says.

“That just says a lot about him and nobody else.”

Donna Chapman, from Delph, said: “I think for any area, for someone to say anything like that is disgraceful,” adding: “It’s disgusting really. You couldn’t pick a nicer part of the world to live.”

When the LDRS asked her if she accepted your apology, she said: “I think he shouldn’t be in a position like he is to be speaking like that. Not at all.”

Lesley, who lives in Shaw but visits Uppermill, said: “It’s just incredible. Politicians, you lose faith in all parties. It’s actually unacceptable.

“You wouldn’t accept it from a friend even if it’s banter so why on earth would you accept it from an elected politician?

“I can’t quite believe that anybody would even say that as a joke. It’s really disappointing. It’s not very inclusive. It’s rude, a lack of manners and just rude.

“I am so glad I didn’t vote for him and I would never vote for him at all now.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sam Al-Hamdani, who represents part of Saddleworth, said: “The whole video is extraordinary. Whether he’s commenting on his role as a councillor or not, I cannot understand how Councillor Hince can think it’s remotely acceptable to make public comments like that about residents of Oldham.

“Councillors have a responsibility to champion their area, and I don’t know how he thinks he can do his job properly when he is on the record making statements like this.

“He needs to take a good hard look in the mirror, and ask himself if he thinks this is an acceptable way to behave as a public servant.”

Coun Hince said: “The comments I made were not intended to cause offence and were obviously not meant as a statement of fact. They were made in a humorous context during an online interaction on a Travellers Facebook page – with somebody claiming to be the King of Saddleworth.

“The Liberal Democrats know this. Yet they choose to use this to try to generate outrage towards me, which is a continuation of a long-standing campaign against me.”

The Liberal Democrats have rejected this claim but Coun Hince was making reference to a closed investigation into four Liberal Democrat councillors over a recording of a private meeting between town hall bosses and independent councillors, which was later leaked. Coun Mark Kenyon later apologised.

An 18-month investigation concluded that Coun Kenyon had breached the councillor’s code of conduct on three counts after he was caught on CCTV placing a device next to the door of the then-council leader Arooj Shah’s office. An independent investigation by Weightmans also concluded three other councillors had breached rules due to ‘a failure to co-operate with a code of conduct investigation’.

Coun Hince said: “I have many friends in Saddleworth and appreciate the area greatly, to try to portray this as a serious debate is frankly absurd. However now this has been taken into a wider domain. I sincerely apologise for my attempt at humour and any offence which may be caused.”

 

---

 

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.