Lib Dem Councillor: “This is what happens when we work together”

Lichfield City Councillors are to receive training on hate crime issues, including the effect on victims, the legal definitions of what constitutes a hate crime, and how local authorities can deal with these matters.

The initiative started with Lib Dem Councillor Hugh Ashton who represents Chadsmead on the City Council and Stowe ward on the District Council.

“I saw this group, Staffordshire United Against Hate, at the volunteer event at Lichfield Cathedral,” he says. “When I read the leaflet and realised that they offer training, I thought that the City Council should be aware of these things. We have recently had a group of unwelcome visitors to Lichfield, and this seemed like an appropriate time to raise municipal consciousness of the issues. I decided to inform the Leader of the City Council (Councillor Rosie Harvey-Coggins (Labour, St Johns)) of this, and I was delighted to see her take rapid action to provide a training session for us councillors.”

Ashton adds, “This is what happens when we work together as councillors with a common goal, rather than fighting each other and drawing up battle lines. We have shown that voting for an alternative to the two major parties can help bring about change. 

“For those residents of Stowe ward who may be voting in the by-election on February 13, this is a chance to elect a Lib Dem candidate, Morag Maclean, who can provide new ideas, especially related to her specialty of care provision. These will be backed and promoted by the existing team of Lib Dem councillors and which will be judged on their own merits, rather than on the colour of their proposer’s rosette.”

For more information about USAH and their work, visit www.staffsvictimsgateway.org.uk.