An anonymous copycat caller left a message on the phone of
Cllr.John Worrow saying "With a bit of luck you have got Aids ".
Cllr.Worrow has handed a recording of the message into Kent
police who are investigating and have said they are taking the matter very
seriously.
But Cllr.Worrow - who received a similar message from Thanet
Conservative councillor Ken Gregory
earlier in the year and is yet to received an apology - says this is just more
proof that there is a homophobic hate campaign against me. There was real
hatred in the voice of the person who said this. It wasn't like an idle threat.
Whoever it was, meant what they were saying and that makes it a frightening
situation.
Surely Councillor Gregory has apologised, othwise Cllr Bob Bayford would not be letting him rejoin Thanet Conservatives, would he?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that COUNCILLOR GREGORY is to be let back in the Conservative group without being made to apologise EXPOSES their true views on HIV-AIDS, hate crime and homosexuality. Are they all drunks?
DeleteA 'made to apologise' is hardly an apology. The guy accepted a caution, was suspended by the party for six months and was cleared by the Council's own standards committee, which includes Labour members, of any offence requiring him to relinguish office. As such he can continue as a councillor and, if he chooses not to apologise, then that is down to him. Now whether he will be reselected to run for office or elected by the public if he does is another matter, but you simply cannot brand a whole party because of one man's conduct.
DeleteMike Harrison posted homophobic comments, but you don't call the Labour party all homophobes because of it. Also it is a Tory prime minister, David Cameron, who is supporting the proposals for gay marriage, something Labour never introduced in thirteen years in office, so let's try to be a bit even handed.
Until he says sorry, many people will assume that Cllr Gregory stands by his offensive remarks.
DeleteIt is appalling that any elected public official would wish a potentially fatal disease on another human being - and then fail to apologise and be invited back
The LP asked Mike Harrison to apologise for his much softer remark and he did - so he was let back in the party.
The LOCAL conservatives did NOT ask Gregory to resign which suggests they are just as homophobic as him. Views on equal marriage are irelevant.
I am glad you find it so easy to be inconsistent, 15:07, for it completely negates your argument.
DeleteThe Thanet Conservative group has been an embarrasment for years, there's a few decent hard working people but they are surrounded by a hard core of arrogant and bigoted men stuck in the dark ages.
ReplyDelete09:25, Why are you assuming this anonymous hate caller was from the Thanet Conservative group. There are homophobes and bigots of all persuassions. After the Ken Gregory case it is most unlikely that any councillor, regardless of party, would repeat that serious offence so it is more likely some trouble making copycat or someone with a very personal grudge against John Worrow.
DeleteNonetheless, it is perhaps not without some significance that this should happen now just as the TIG publicity star was in decline.
"Nonetheless, it is perhaps not without some significance that this should happen now just as the TIG publicity star was in decline"
DeleteYeah I'm sure John loves being harrassed NOT
12:23 I think you were right before you added the NOT. Publicity is an upper to some people.
DeleteYeah gays only want publicity
DeleteClearly "With a bit of luck you have got Aids" is not a particularly pleasant thing to say to anybody, but I do fail to understand how this can be construed as a threat. The caller is not threatening to give the recipient Aids, or indeed any other physical assault, but simply suggesting they might already have this virus. Hardly a threat, but more a wish of ill fortune.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, with the source of this information, it will yet again be heralded as an example of homophobia, but why? Is John Worrow not, by his own admission, bi-sexual? Is Aids confined just to gay people or is it not now also a sexually transmitted disease that straight people can get. Surely it must follow that such a call could be more an indication of one's perceived sexual promiscuity rather than what type of sex one engages in.
I think John would have been best advised to respond with a swift smart repartee like 'foxtrot oscar' and then put the phone down and got on with his life. Treat such anonymous and cowardly name callers with the contempt they deserve rather than giving them the satisfaction of seeing their deeds heralded in print and used to divert police time from catching villains who really hurt people.
The law doesnt see it that way my bigoted friend
DeleteWhy bigotted? Ignoring such conduct is often more productive than reacting to it is simply the point I made. Yet another example of the trend in Thanet to call everyone who does not positively cling to every utterance of the Diversity Champion, a bigot or a homophobe.
DeleteIf Cllr Worrow is so sensitive perhaps he should not have run for public office. To do so is a bit like becoming a football referee if you are touchy about people questioning your parenthood or eyesight.
ReplyDeleteI agree, councillors should put up with being subjected to homophobic harrasment, and if they are so sensitive they should not run for public office. We need more drunk drivers as well as people like Ken and Ted, they are the type of people we need!
DeleteIts fine to hurt animals, abuse gays, and drink when pissed, as long as you're not so sensitive
Hopefully the person behind the message will be found speedily and action taken. Does Worrow recognise the voice? This doesn't sound like a harassment action, rather more someone trying, and failing miserably, to be funny. The choice of words is just too similar to be someone being serious.
ReplyDeleteSeems half the contributors to the comments on this article are Conservatives and the other half are John Worrow.
ReplyDelete