Peterborough Mayor Cllr Marco Cereste has refused to allow a question to be asked at the city council meeting on February 19 about a WhatsApp group that uses the words ‘No Retards’ and had Conservatives as members of it.
The group – first exposed by CambsNews – has come under fire from leading disability charities and both local MPs, Andrew Pakes, and Sam Carling.
Andrew Pakes, MP, for Peterborough, said via X (formerly Twitter): “Language like this pulls Peterborough politics back into the gutter. If you spoke like this at work, you’d get sacked. The Tories have serious questions to answer.”
Sam Carling, MP for NW Cambridgeshire, wrote: “Bullying and intimidation have no place in our politics. Residents will rightly be shocked by these allegations involving senior local Conservatives – we deserve better.”
He called for an “urgent investigation” by the Conservatives and for the leader to take “robust action”.
Party leader Kemi Badenoch has so far refused requests to launch an investigation.
Press photographer Terry Harris is a well-known figure in Cambridgeshire and his work appears regularly in national and international media.
He also a senior role within CambsNews but he says he has been hurt by the group’s name for personal reasons.
“As the father of a daughter with Down Syndrome, the group name has caused significant distress and undermines trust in leadership positions held in public office,” he says.
“The ‘R word’ is deeply offensive and reflects poorly on individuals involved in any group or organization.”
He is angry and disappointed that Mayor Cereste has refused his request to put a question to city councillors during a traditional Q&A session open to the public.
In his question, which everyone is required to submit in advance, he reminds councillors of their code of conduct which includes the requirement to promote equalities “and do not discriminate unlawfully against any person”.
He said the code made reference to bullying “that might be a regular pattern of behaviour or a one-off incident, happen face-to face, on social media, in emails or phone calls, happen in the workplace or at work social events and may not always be obvious or noticed by others”.
Mr Harris said he wanted to “invite Peterborough City Councillors to consider whether members of any party, irrespective of their political persuasion, feel it proper to belong to any social media private messenger group, which describes itself in a massively derogatory manner and which can easily be mistaken for an opinion of the mental health of any individual that may be known to them”.
He also had a follow up question – not identified to the Mayor – which questioned if there were current city councillors’ that are members of such a group “and if so will do they the honourable thing and withdraw immediately from such groups, apologise for their behaviour and resign”.
Mayor Cereste, after discussion with the council’s democratic services team, refused to allow the question.
Mr Harris found little support from city council leader Cllr Dennis Jones to get the question onto the agenda.
He told Mr Harris: “Under the council’s constitution, this is not a decision that falls to me as the leader of the council.
“As stated in the original response from democratic services, it is the Mayor who decides whether or not to reject a question, having taken advice from the monitoring officer.
“In the present case, the Mayor has taken advice and decided that your question should be rejected as it is not about a matter for which the local authority has a responsibility or which affects the city.
“I am not able to overturn the Mayor’s ruling on this matter.”
Use of the R Word is widely frowned upon, especially among charities that support people across a wide range of issues.
Peterborough based Little Miracles is a charity that supports families of children with additional needs, disabilities, and life-limiting conditions. They provide a non-judgemental environment and use a holistic approach to support the needs of the whole family.
It specialises in providing advice, guidance, support, activities, training, and safe places to any family that needs them. This includes providing support before they are diagnosed and from birth to 25. They rely almost entirely on voluntary donations in order to provide families with the support that they need when they need it.
Michelle King of Little Miracles told CambsNews: “Personally I hate the word; it is grossly outdated and deeply offensive.
“It should never be used in any context, let alone by individuals in positions of power who have a duty to protect and support vulnerable communities. If such language has been used in a political setting, even an informal one, is not only disappointing but also completely unacceptable.
“Leaders should set an example of inclusivity and respect, not engage in behaviour that fosters exclusion and harm.”
Helen Delmar, Speak Out Peterborough, which acts as a voice for people with a learning disability and autistic people aged 14 or above, described the R Word as appalling.
She said: “The use of such dehumanizing language by elected officials is appalling and unacceptable. It demonstrates a profound disrespect for the very people they are meant to represent and undermines the principles of equality and inclusion.”
“As a Speak Out Facilitator, I empower individuals with learning disabilities and autism in Peterborough to express their needs and influence decisions. Through the work we do, service providers and policymakers come to understand people’s perspectives central to creating a more inclusive community.”
Michelle Clark of “Lose the Label” – the campaign to ensure better understanding and recognition of the rights of those with Down Syndrome – said: “There are no blurred lines, there is no instance in which the r-word is acceptable. It’s indefensible”
She said it was vital to take even small steps to eradicate such “derogatory and dehumanising language and the continued failure of those in power positions to acknowledge this is quite simply disrespectful”.
