Outgoing mayor alleges bullying by councillor

Kathy Williams is the former mayor of Gloucester

Former Gloucester mayor Kathy Williams revealed in her outgoing speech she was subjected to an almost two year hate campaign.

The former Conservative councillor for Longlevens told an annual meeting she had seen a change in conduct at the council, adding the behaviour of some councillors and members of the public during her time in office had been disgraceful and disrespectful.

She alleged there was a "bully" at Gloucester City Council and she would campaign to get the law changed so that councillors get Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Cllr Williams believed the law should also be changed to bar people with criminal convictions from standing for public office, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Target of hate'

"We have unfortunately in this chamber a member who is nothing better described than a bully," she said.

"I have been receiving threatening text messages on my phone for nearly two years.

"And although I blocked this individual, they used another phone to target and threaten me.

"Both Justin [Hudson, who was her deputy and Sheriff of Gloucester] and myself and other candidates, have been the target of a hate campaign on social media at the recent election led by a councillor sitting in this room right now.

“Fortunately those of us who have been targeted have real friends in this city who alerted us to this so we could take some action. Those and the threatening texts are in the hands of the police who deal with hate crimes.

'No place for bullies'

“I have contacted the Local Government Association and reported what has happened in Gloucester and they were horrified.

“This is the state of local authority politics, today in our city.

Cllr Williams said she will write to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and lobby MPs to make it compulsory for people with criminal convictions to be barred from taking public office.

She wished the new mayor and council well going forward. But she reminded them to be cautious in their deals.

"Certain members record everything you say," she said.

"And I remind you all this is no place for bullies or those who abuse their position on this or any other council."