Row after councillor wears ID to hotel protest

Councillor Alison Sheridan denies doing anything wrong by wearing her Exeter City Council identification at a protest outside a hotel being used to house asylum seekers

A complaint has been lodged after a Conservative councillor wearing official identification attended a protest outside a hotel in Exeter being used to house asylum seekers.

Green Party councillors said councillor Alison Sheridan's actions brought Exeter City Council (ECC) into disrepute and she should resign.

Sheridan said she wanted to be completely open and transparent about who she was while at the protest and denied doing anything wrong.

Exeter City Council declined to comment.

Diana Moore, Green Party leader, says she has complained to Exeter City Council

Demonstrations were held against hotels housing asylum seekers at locations across the country on Saturday including one on the outskirts of Exeter.

Diana Moore, leader of the Green Party at the council, said an official complaint had been lodged.

Moore said: "We respect Alison Sheridan's right to protest but as she was wearing her councillor lanyard.

"This suggested she was acting on behalf of the council.

"We believe her actions were a breach of the councillor's code of conduct and bring Exeter City Council into disrepute."

Michael Mitchell, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, said: "Whilst totally disagreeing with this councillor's views she is free to express her own views but she is not expressing them on my behalf or on behalf of ECC.

"Wearing her council lanyard was a provocative act for which she should be sanctioned."

Councillor Alison Sheridan said she wanted to be open about her position as a councillor while at the protest

Sheridan said she could "find nothing in the council code of conduct to say that I have done anything wrong".

She said she was being "transparent" in wearing her council identification and contrasted her position with people at a counter protest who were seen wearing masks.

She said: "I wasn't hiding but openly representing the British people and those of my ward."

Sheridan said she wanted to stand at the protest "proudly and openly" and completely rejected calls for her resignation.

The only Reform councillor on the city council supported Sheridan's actions and said she "should be recognised for engaging with her community, not punished for it".

Tony Payne, who was elected as the Reform member for Whipton and Mincinglake in a by-election in May, said on social media: "By wearing her council lanyard, Alison showed openness and transparency — making it clear she was present as an elected representative, there to listen to the concerns of local people."

Exeter City Council declined to comment on any complaints it may have received and whether any action would be taken.