COUNCILLORS have backed a motion “reaffirming” their “utter intolerance of violence against women and girls” after it emerged the South Basildon and East Thurrock Reform MP had been convicted of assaulting a woman reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
James McMurdock was elected as the Reform Party MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, ousting long-standing Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe, at the General Election.
However, it later emerged he had served ten days in a young offenders institution for assaulting a young woman.
Mr McMurdock has since spoken of his regret over the incident which occurred when he was 19.
But during a meeting of Thurrock full council on Wednesday, Conservative councillor Deborah Arnold urged the council “reaffirms our utter intolerance of violence of any kind, especially violence by men against women and girls”.
There was just one dissenting voice amid otherwise unanimous support for the motion. Speaking at the meeting, John Cecil, Labour councillor for Stanford East and Corringham Town, said he had become a probation volunteer after leaving the Royal Navy in 1972. He said: “Rehabilitation is an important part of the justice system. It has been sadly, sadly, neglected over these last 20-odd years.”
Mr Cecil added: “If this man’s sentence is spent, I think you will be wasting your time. Once a sentence is spent, there is no way back that he can be recalled to custodial sentence. He has rehabilitated and is now a married man with four children and I would like to speak for all rehabilitated criminals who have changed. They do change. And change for the better.”
Following the meeting Ms Arnold criticised Mr Cecil for not backing the motion. She said: “Politicians are human beings and minor transgressions committed before they are elected should not always be held against them. However, some crimes are so serious it is simply unacceptable for someone who has committed them to hold high public office, especially when it has resulted in a prison term.
“I cannot in any way understand how a Labour councillor could oppose calls to condemn violent crime. My motion was clear – it called on councillors to reaffirm our opposition to violence against women and girls. I call on him to publicly apologise and in the meantime we wait to know what action the Labour Party will now take against him.”
Mr McMurdock and Mr Cecil were approached to comment.
