ONE of Cornwall’s Labour MPs has called for more robust measures to tackle “egregious behaviour” by councillors.

Jayne Kirkham’s comments in Parliament came on the same day as a parish councillor in Cornwall was censured over controversial comments about the Holocaust and Hitler.

The MP for Truro and Falmouth, who is asking the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to review the sanctions on standards, raised the matter in the House of Commons on June 5.

Addressing MP Lucy Powell, she asked: “Can the Leader of the House grant a debate in Government time on a more robust range of censure and sanction options for serious breaches of the local government members’ code of conduct, including suspension and removal of councillors? I know of recent incidents in which, despite egregious behaviour by councillors elected unopposed, those councillors remain in post, regardless of the wishes of their community and their council.”

The leader of the House of Commons responded: “We want to see high standards in public life, including in local government and among councillors. We are looking at how we can take steps and bring forward legislation to continue to raise standards in local government.”

Although she did not refer to any specific councillors or incidents, Ms Kirkham’s comments came just a few hours before Mylor Parish Council agreed to “absolutely and unequivocally” reject comments made by Cllr Peter Lawrence at a protest meeting on May 24.

The councillor was caught on camera at the Great British Strike gathering in Truro saying the Holocaust was “massively over-exaggerated”. He was asked by opposing protest group Cornwall Resists if antisemitism exists and he replied “technically, no”. He then went on to say “Hitler did not have beef with the Jews”.

While Cllr Lawrence at no time claimed to be speaking as a Mylor parish councillor, it was his fellow councillors’ contention that his words brought them and the council into disrepute by association. He has refused to resign as a councillor.

In May, the then deputy mayor of Truro, Cllr Sam Rabey, was banned by the Diocese of Truro from the city’s cathedral and its grounds due to safeguarding concerns. A briefing given to staff and volunteers was “being shared under safeguarding with the intention of managing and reducing risk of harm”. No details of the specific reasons for the Diocese’s concerns were revealed.

David Rodda, Truro City Council’s clerk, said at the time: “Our position is that he’s eligible to stand as a councillor, that the council will elect its mayor on Monday, May 12, and we are aware of the cathedral’s position and will act accordingly depending on the outcome of the election of mayor. They’ve taken a position based on information they have and we’ll have to act accordingly.

“Our safeguarding policy’s in place, which states that the mayor, deputy mayor and senior officers will be DBS checked. We take safeguarding seriously and will act in accordance with our policy.”

Cllr Rabey was not elected as mayor or re-elected as deputy mayor at the city council meeting.