The Leader of Peterborough City Council, Councillor Dennis Jones, has today resigned with immediate effect.
An Extraordinary Full Council meeting will be called as soon as reasonably possible to appoint a new Council Leader.
Councillor Jones remains a councillor and will serve as an independent.
The resignation is in response to comments made by Councillor Jones which were shared on social media.
A formal complaint has been received by the council in relation to this and we are now considering its contents.
Picture by Terry Harris.
Councillor Dennis Jones said exclusively to CambsNews: “I have decided that it is in the best interests of Peterborough City Council that I resign as council leader immediately whilst the Labour Party conducts its investigation.
“With regard to the topic discussed, let me be absolutely clear: vile perpetrators of sexual abuse must face the full force of the law, and we must all continue to fight for victims of such abhorrent crimes to get the justice they deserve.
“In trying to assert this view, I used language which some who wrongly dismiss or choose to ignore such evil crimes commonly use to minimise such criminality. In doing so, I was intending to discredit this completely wrong characterisation and highlight the need to stand up for victims of such crimes.
“I apologise wholeheartedly for some of the language used in these messages, which was clearly inappropriate, and for any offence I may have caused as a result.”
Andrew Pakes posted on Facebook the following statement.
A statement from Sam Carling MP and myself on the resignation of Council Leader Cllr Dennis Jones.
