Reform councillor criticised for comment about disabled Labour candidate
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 12:32 · Archive
A Reform UK councillor has been branded ableist after describing a visually impaired Labour by-election candidate as a 'Stevie Wonder lookalike' on social media.
Reform UK councillor Joel Tetlow has drawn condemnation after describing visually impaired Labour by-election candidate Jackie Rawstron as a 'Stevie Wonder lookalike' in a social media comment made over the weekend of 17 October. Ms Rawstron had shared a photo of herself canvassing with the Hyndburn Labour group, describing receiving strong support on the doorstep. When a member of the public asked which person in the photo was Ms Rawstron, Cllr Tetlow made the comparison to the blind American musician.
The comment has been branded ableist by Labour figures in Hyndburn. Cllr Tetlow serves on both Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Council. The by-election for Huncoat is being held on 12 November following the death of long-serving councillor Dave Parkins in September, and is expected to be closely contested between Labour and Reform, which received 49 per cent of the vote in May's local elections in the traditionally Labour seat.
MP Sarah Smith said that political disagreement is necessary in democracy but personal remarks about appearance are different. She stated: 'Every candidate, elected representative and political volunteer, deserves to be able to participate in public life without being subjected to personal attacks.' The council leader and Ms Rawstron herself also issued statements about standards in public life and ableism.
How it is being reported
- Reform councillor who labelled disabled candidate a 'Stevie Wonder lookalike' denies being ableistJackie Rawstron is visually impaired and uses a walking aidLancsLive · 20 Oct, 11:50
- Reform councillor slammed for ‘Stevie Wonder’ jab at disabled by-election candidateA Reform UK councillor has been branded ableist after describing a disabled Labour by-election candidate as a ‘Stevie Wonder lookalike’.Lancashire Telegraph · 20 Oct, 08:00
In this story: Joel Tetlow · Jackie Rawstron · Sarah Smith · Reform UK · Labour · Hyndburn · Huncoat
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