Adam Hart
Guest Reporter
The Lord Mayor of Cardiff who should be 'neutral' has been slammed for shutting down a Conservative Councillor early during a Gaza debate despite allowing councillors from other parties more than their allotted time to speak.
Labour Councillor Helen Lloyd Jones, who was appointed to the politically neutral role of Lord Mayor six days ago, was chairing a debate on Gaza when the incident occurred.
The debate was about a motion the Liberal Democrats had proposed calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
After waiting for his chance to speak, Conservative Councillor Calum Davies argued Cardiff Council should leave foreign affairs to the UK government and instead focus on providing for the people of Cardiff.
He said: “I have to say this is a very disappointing motion on so many fronts.
“We are councillors elected to discharge the functions of local government. Whilst everyone is entitled to an opinion on foreign affairs, they are not the purview of a council like ours and this is a matter reserved for Parliament.”
Councillor Davies went on to criticise the Lib Dems for bringing forward the motion, stating: “The simple truth is this is an act of cynicism.
“The Liberal Democrats get two chances to set the agenda each year. They could have raised cases that affect the public but chose to hijack an issue for the sake of headlines and publicity.
“If this wasn't the case, where are the motions on the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China? Maybe there's just not enough retweets in it, I guess.”
Davies also criticised the potential ceasefire which ‘leaves Hamas infrastructure in place’ and which would allow the terrorist organisation to ‘regroup and recommit atrocities.’
He also bashed fellow councillors for attending ceasefire marches, reasoning it could ‘undermine community cohesion’ in Cardiff.
But after two minutes and thirty-one seconds of Councillor Davies’ allotted three minutes, Lord Mayor Lloyd Jones cut in.
Davies protested, but the Lord Mayor dismissed him stating: “You do have three minutes, but I do have the right to overrule you and I’m going to do that and I’m going to ask Councillor Latif to speak please.”
Davies replied: “But I’m about to close. There’s no reason to stop me speaking, no one else got stopped.”
“I am allowed to,” said the Lord Mayor, to which Councillor Davies said: “You are allowed to but should you?”
“It’s a very good question and we’ll debate it another time,” said the Lord Mayor.
This was despite Labour Councillor Ali Ahmed, who spoke just before Davies, being given over four minutes to speak.
Lib Dem Councillor Imran Latif, who spoke just after Davies, was given over three minutes.
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Reflecting, Councillor Davies said: “I think this exposes a shocking bias in the Welsh capital’s council.
“It shows the Left cannot beat an argument but only shut it down, and it highlights a shocking disregard from elected politicians to recognise that a ceasefire leaves Hamas infrastructure in place, solves nothing and puts more lives at risk.
“I believe it was wrong to single me out for pointing out the uncomfortable truths about the reality of this conflict.
“Others were allowed to call Israel’s actions ‘genocide’ without recognition that destroying Israel is the purpose of Hamas, and praise corrupt UN bodies that had been infiltrated by terrorists.
“I have still not been provided with a basis for the curtailing of my contribution, which was one of only two that didn’t bend the knee to the consensus of the left-wing parties.
“No wonder people feel the system is broken.”
Responding, a Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “A number of councillors wanted to speak on this motion.
"The Lord Mayor used her discretion as chair of the meeting, and as allowed by the constitution, to move the debate on so others could have an opportunity to make their points.
"After Cllr Davies’s time was cut short by 19 seconds a motion was brought to council during the debate asking for an extension to the debate to allow more councillors to speak.
"This was accepted by the Lord Mayor and helped ensure the chamber heard from a number of differing points of view before the vote was held.
"The final vote on the motion saw 56 vote for: one against; 0 abstain.”
As the video shows, Councillor Davies was first interrupted with 29 seconds to go and then again with 19 seconds to go.
Councillor Davies added that after the meeting several Labour members agreed with him that he should have been allowed to finish his speech.
Councillor Davies and Lloyd Jones both represent the Radyr and Morganstown ward in northwest Cardiff.
Labour has run Cardiff Council since 2012, winning a thumping majority in the most recent election in 2022 with 55 seats. The next biggest parties are the Liberal Democrats (10) and Conservatives (9).
Lord Mayors are politically neutral during their year of office, acting as chairperson of council meetings.
Lord Mayor Lloyd Jones has been approached for comment.
Find Out More...
Labour Councillor Helen Lloyd Jones, who was appointed to the politically neutral role of Lord Mayor six days ago, was chairing a debate on Gaza when the incident occurred.
The debate was about a motion the Liberal Democrats had proposed calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
After waiting for his chance to speak, Conservative Councillor Calum Davies argued Cardiff Council should leave foreign affairs to the UK government and instead focus on providing for the people of Cardiff.
He said: “I have to say this is a very disappointing motion on so many fronts.
“We are councillors elected to discharge the functions of local government. Whilst everyone is entitled to an opinion on foreign affairs, they are not the purview of a council like ours and this is a matter reserved for Parliament.”
Councillor Davies went on to criticise the Lib Dems for bringing forward the motion, stating: “The simple truth is this is an act of cynicism.
“The Liberal Democrats get two chances to set the agenda each year. They could have raised cases that affect the public but chose to hijack an issue for the sake of headlines and publicity.
“If this wasn't the case, where are the motions on the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China? Maybe there's just not enough retweets in it, I guess.”
Davies also criticised the potential ceasefire which ‘leaves Hamas infrastructure in place’ and which would allow the terrorist organisation to ‘regroup and recommit atrocities.’
He also bashed fellow councillors for attending ceasefire marches, reasoning it could ‘undermine community cohesion’ in Cardiff.
But after two minutes and thirty-one seconds of Councillor Davies’ allotted three minutes, Lord Mayor Lloyd Jones cut in.
Davies protested, but the Lord Mayor dismissed him stating: “You do have three minutes, but I do have the right to overrule you and I’m going to do that and I’m going to ask Councillor Latif to speak please.”
Davies replied: “But I’m about to close. There’s no reason to stop me speaking, no one else got stopped.”
“I am allowed to,” said the Lord Mayor, to which Councillor Davies said: “You are allowed to but should you?”
“It’s a very good question and we’ll debate it another time,” said the Lord Mayor.
This was despite Labour Councillor Ali Ahmed, who spoke just before Davies, being given over four minutes to speak.
Lib Dem Councillor Imran Latif, who spoke just after Davies, was given over three minutes.
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Reflecting, Councillor Davies said: “I think this exposes a shocking bias in the Welsh capital’s council.
“It shows the Left cannot beat an argument but only shut it down, and it highlights a shocking disregard from elected politicians to recognise that a ceasefire leaves Hamas infrastructure in place, solves nothing and puts more lives at risk.
“I believe it was wrong to single me out for pointing out the uncomfortable truths about the reality of this conflict.
“Others were allowed to call Israel’s actions ‘genocide’ without recognition that destroying Israel is the purpose of Hamas, and praise corrupt UN bodies that had been infiltrated by terrorists.
“I have still not been provided with a basis for the curtailing of my contribution, which was one of only two that didn’t bend the knee to the consensus of the left-wing parties.
“No wonder people feel the system is broken.”
Responding, a Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “A number of councillors wanted to speak on this motion.
"The Lord Mayor used her discretion as chair of the meeting, and as allowed by the constitution, to move the debate on so others could have an opportunity to make their points.
"After Cllr Davies’s time was cut short by 19 seconds a motion was brought to council during the debate asking for an extension to the debate to allow more councillors to speak.
"This was accepted by the Lord Mayor and helped ensure the chamber heard from a number of differing points of view before the vote was held.
"The final vote on the motion saw 56 vote for: one against; 0 abstain.”
As the video shows, Councillor Davies was first interrupted with 29 seconds to go and then again with 19 seconds to go.
Councillor Davies added that after the meeting several Labour members agreed with him that he should have been allowed to finish his speech.
Councillor Davies and Lloyd Jones both represent the Radyr and Morganstown ward in northwest Cardiff.
Labour has run Cardiff Council since 2012, winning a thumping majority in the most recent election in 2022 with 55 seats. The next biggest parties are the Liberal Democrats (10) and Conservatives (9).
Lord Mayors are politically neutral during their year of office, acting as chairperson of council meetings.
Lord Mayor Lloyd Jones has been approached for comment.
Find Out More...