Reform UK mayor leaves meeting with Labour minister after disagreement over social media
A Reform UK mayor walked out of a meeting with the Communities Secretary after disagreeing over comments about social media and the response to an 18-year-old's murder. The mayor later said the departure was not a storm-out and defended the need for free speech.
bbc.co.ukA Reform UK mayor left a meeting with Communities Secretary Steve Reed after a disagreement over remarks about social media and the government's response to the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. The meeting on Thursday had been scheduled to discuss devolving powers from Westminster to regional leaders.
At the end of the session, time was set aside to address events from the past week and their effect on social cohesion.
Disagreement over social media Mr Reed opened the discussion by attributing scenes of disorder in Southampton to "hostile foreign actors" on social media, according to sources cited by The Guardian. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard participated in the exchange.
" She stated that social cohesion cannot exist without free speech and criticized Labour figures for avoiding scrutiny of the Prime Minister's response to the case.
Departure and response The exchange escalated when West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin responded, after which the Reform UK mayor left the room. Her Reform colleague Luke Campbell remained for the rest of the talks. " She said she left 15 minutes early because she would not sit through what she called hypocrisy and argued that identity politics and two-tier policing have left communities feeling unheard.
Mr Reed told the newspaper after the meeting that the government is committed to moving power from Westminster to mayors.
