Labour councillor called for ‘throats of far-right protesters to be cut', court hears
In the wake of rioting following the Southport murders, Ricky Jones, 58, described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists', his trial was told.
The now-suspended councillor had been told by the Labour Party to stay away from the protest, but turned up anyway, jurors heard.
A video showing Jones addressing the crowd in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest.
Wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, the councillor said: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.'
He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the 'tinderbox' crowd.
The demonstration had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court were told.
It followed the nationwide violent disorder that occurred last summer after the Southport murders.
Prosecutor Ben Holt said Jones used 'inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd that we will hear described as a tinderbox'.
Opening the case on Monday, Mr Holt said: 'Last summer, three young girls were killed at a dance-themed party in Southport.
'There was some hysteria… Some of that grief manifested itself in anger, and regrettably, violence.'
The incidents brought out counter-protests, one of which Jones decided to go to, the prosecutor said.
'He attended in the face of considered advice not to do so,' Mr Holt added.
'At Walthamstow that day, rumours had spread that there was going to be a protest outside an immigration centre.
'During that event, he made a speech, amplified through a public address system, to the crowd.
'He called the other side disgusting Nazi fascists. He said that their throats needed to be slit.
'He drew his finger along his throat as he said that.
'This, in a setting where, we suggest, violence could readily have been anticipated.
'We ask rhetorically, what did Mr Jones think was going to happen?'
In the days before the protest, the councillor had been warned to stay away by his party.
A letter sent to him said: 'With heightened tensions in many areas of the country due to the threat of further violent disorder, we wanted to remind all Labour party councillors to follow the clear advice issued by the police which is not to take part in, attend or encourage others to attend, any sort of demonstration or counter demonstration.'
Jones, of Dartford, who denies one count of encouraging violent disorder, told police he was 'sorry' he made the comments 'in the heat of the moment', and had not intended for them to be 'taken literally', Mr Holt said.
The councillor also told police he was upset having been sent pictures of National Front stickers that had been left on a train, which had razor blades hidden behind them.
Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by the Labour Party the day after the alleged incident.
The trial continues.
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Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
JD Vance visits posh Cotswolds farm shop Daylesford Organic as his huge security convoy annoys locals after sending countryside into lockdown
Have YOU seen JD Vance in the Cotswolds? JD Vance has been spotted visiting a farm shop dubbed one of the poshest in the UK after he arrived in the Cotswolds for a family holiday. Locals have been left disgruntled after the US Vice President's massive motorcade, made up of 18 vehicles, sent the countryside into lockdown today. Residents have been faced with road closures and security checkpoints manned by police with sniffer dogs - as Vance heads to a country manor in the hamlet of Dean. Photos shared on social media now show his security convoy making a stop at the Daylesford Organic farm shop, near Chipping Norton. Several large black SUVs carrying people believed to be Secret Service agents were seen parked on the driveway. Other photos show Vance inside the shop as he was shown around by Tory 'super-donor' and billionaire digger boss Lord Antony Bamford. Lord Bamford's wife, Lady Carole, set up Daylesford Organic in 2002, with the shop previously hitting the headlines for charging £950 for a wicker-style blanket basket. JD Vance is believed to have stayed in the shop for around three hours and to have taken particular interest in the bread counter, where he was seen trying samples. JD Vance has been spotted visiting a farm shop dubbed one of the poshest in the UK after he arrived in the Cotswolds for a family holiday JD Vance's vehicles were spotted outside Daylesford Organic in the Cotswolds Vance was shown around by Tory 'super-donor' and billionaire digger boss Lord Antony Bamford One person posted on social media: 'Stopped off at a farm did JD Vance. Security everywhere.' Another added: 'JD Vance decided to go to Daylesford Farm [at] the same time as us.' Daylesford Organic, which is situated on 3,500 acres of farmland, is known for its upmarket goods. Items on sale when the Daily Mail visited in October last year included Swedish side tables priced at £3,500 each and a £6,950 burnt cedar wood 'kindled' bowl. Meanwhile, an influencer was also left baffled in March when she paid an eye-watering £37 for just four grocery items. Vance's visit to Daylesford Organic comes after his motorcade was seen passing through Chipping Norton this afternoon. All entrances to the hamlet of Dean - two roads and three public footpaths - were subsequently blocked off. Only residents of the hamlet were allowed in and out, dog walkers were diverted, and those entering the area were subject to searches. Today, one local councillor labelled the heavy security presence 'intimidating' and compared the sight of guards in suits and sunglasses patrolling quiet lanes to scenes from Men In Black. Vance was said to have shown particular interest in the bread counter where he tried samples The outside of the farm shop which is considered one of the poshest in the UK due to its high prices Vance's visit to Daylesford Organic comes after his motorcade was seen passing through Chipping Norton this afternoon Daylesford Organic, which is situated on 3,500 acres of farmland, is known for its upmarket goods 'We understand that people do need security but I think they haven't been discreet about it,' said councillor Andy Graham. 'I think that tends to generate more concern than is necessary. Roads have been closed up.' Mr Vance arrived in the Cotswolds today with his wife, Usha, and children - Ewan, eight, Vivek, five, and Mirabel, three - after the family drove up from London following a private tour of Hampton Court yesterday. Mr Vance rocked up at Henry VIII's former residence for a morning tour - forcing the site to delay its public opening to 12pm. 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There has been intense activity around the manor house for days. JD Vance's 18-vehicle motorcade passing through Chipping Norton this afternoon Police have closed off all roads and footpaths into the hamlet of Dean, where the US Vice President is staying with his family at Dean Manor, an 18th-century country house The vice presidential convoy making its way through Chipping Norton Officers are now checking the identity of residents trying to pass through the security cordon, watched on by dozens of Secret Service agents The motorcade is accompanied by motorcycle outriders to clear traffic On the main gateway of the property, leading to a sweeping 'in and out' driveway, two suited security guards have been checking the security clearance of those coming and going in a stream of blacked out cars and Mercedes limousine vans. Councillor Andy Graham, who has lived in the area for 11 years, questioned the use of police resources. 'I just worry about the number of police cars because at the end of the day they should be doing other things in the Thames Valley area,' he said. 'I'm disappointed that the authorities didn't keep me in the loop. I was aware of the holiday but I wasn't told how long it was going to be. 'I don't need the details because they can't do that but giving us a bit more of a steer so that I could reassure my constituents a bit more would have been good. I'm just a bit miffed about it I suppose. 'I know there are some planned protests tomorrow from the locals. They have strong feelings. They are not happy. There is clearly concern over it. It's the talking point of the community. In the nearby village of Chadlington, one woman called the high security a 'waste of resources'. 'To be honest it's the cost of it, the cost of the police, it's obviously impacting Thames Valley and therefore everyone,' she said. 'We get permanent disruption from Diddly Squat Farm. It's a real impact. I have one friend who had to go to Dean and she said the security was madness. 'Hopefully it will blow over because she was feeding someone's cats, and you have to have your cars searched to go in. 'She just turned around, she said 'you know what I'm have to make other arrangements'.' Mr Vance has made his presence felt with a massive security cohort Pippa Hornby, who bought the 18th-century Cotswolds home (pictured) with her husband Johnny in 2017, has told villagers that she was 'so sorry for the circus' set to take place The manor house was built in 1702 for Thomas Rowney, an Oxford MP Another couple, US citizens living in the UK, attempted to visit the town of Dean because of JD Vance but were turned away. 'I heard about the visit and just typed into ChatGPT 'Where is JD Vance staying' and it gave me the name. So we said let's just do a drive by, so we came here because we were curious about the area he was staying in.' 'We were being nosey. But the security wouldn't let us past the blockade. We sort of looked and said can we drive down there and they said well you can if you are going to visit or somebody, because they have a lots of people. 'I said no actually we just wanted to go to one of the Cafes there and they said well no we can't let you through.' She added: 'I'm saddened in a way that the Cotswolds will be on the radar of Americans and particularly MAGA type Americans. A long-term Chadlington resident said the area had become 'pretentious' and 'chock-a-block' with outsiders. 'I have been here for 30 years, it's yet another come to the Cotswolds, it's all become a bit chock a block really,' she said. 'We are just all a bit fed up with it all. 'It's all become very pretentious. There's so much money around. It used to be a really nice working village. 'For local people it's a pain in the a***. Because people think it is somewhere to play and they go off and forget that it's actually a working village. 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The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Two girls arrested after suspected arson attack destroys historic hotel
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Telegraph
6 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Transgender Met Police officer accused of rape
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