Councillor urged to step down over harassment case

Simon Morrall pleaded guilty to harassment, but a charge of stalking was dropped

An MP has called on a Birmingham councillor to step down after he admitted harassing a woman.

Simon Morrall, who represents the Frankley Great Park ward, pleaded guilty to the charge last week. He was sentenced to a community order and told to take part in a rehabilitation programme.

The 34-year-old said the charge related to calls made to a former partner and despite his plea, claimed he had received backing from domestic violence victims.

Morrall was pictured partying at a club night in Birmingham hours after being charged by police.

Labour MP Jess Phillips said his actions showed he was not "fit to represent the residents of Birmingham" and urged him to resign.

"That isn’t just because of his poor judgement, it’s because he’s admitted harassment in court," she said.

Morrall was pictured partying in a club hours after being charged

Ms Phillips, who was the shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding until last year, said politicians should be working tirelessly to protect women and girls.

"Having a sitting councillor who has been charged and prosecuted for harassment flies in the face of that ambition," she added.

The former Tory councillor was suspended by the party in July and has been sitting as an independent.

The local Conservative branch has refused to say if further action has been taken against him.

Morrall said the harassment charge related to calls to his former partner over Christmas 2022 - calls he accepted that he "should not" have made.

"I should have accepted that was the end of the relationship," he said.

However, he added he "did the right thing" in pleading guilty, a decision he said avoided a trial and allowed both parties to "move on" with their lives.