Councillor who pushed woman convicted of assault

A councillor has been found guilty of assaulting a member of the public in a town hall amid a protest over the war in Gaza.

Chorley councillor Craige Southern ejected local resident Jenny Hurley from the chamber during a full council meeting in February last year, telling her to "get out".

He was subsequently charged with assault, to which he pleaded not guilty but he was convicted at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Southern has been ordered to pay Ms Hurley £250 in compensation, along with £660 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

In the wake of the fracas, Ms Hurley said that as she was forced out of the room by the Conservative politician, he grabbed her coat and an usher had to stop her from "falling backwards".

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the verdict, Ms Hurley said:  "Being an elected representative does not mean someone is above the law – it is not a right to bully.

"Vigilantism is against the law and assault is assault."

Jenny Hurley had been asking why the council did not table a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza

Southern – who has represented the Croston, Mawdesley and Euxton South ward since May 2023 – said the outcome of the case was "disappointing", but told the LDRS he would be appealing the verdict.

The incident happened during the district authority's annual budget-setting meeting last year, which had already been suspended soon after the start of the proceedings when the Gaza protest erupted during public questions.

Jenny Hurley had demanded to know why the ruling Labour group had not tabled a motion calling for a ceasefire in the conflict.

"Why has that not happened?," she asked.

At that point, Southern shouted: "Because it's Chorley, not bloody Gaza," before moving towards her and telling her to "get out", in scenes filmed by fellow protesters.

Conservative opposition group leader Alan Platt said: "I believe Councillor Southern intends to appeal – and [he] has the full backing of the Conservative group.

"Having been at the meeting, I'm very surprised and disappointed at this verdict.

"The disruption appeared to be staged and the video evidence speaks for itself."

Chorley Council said the authority would not be commenting on the outcome of the case.