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A Labour councillor has ended up in the centre of a storm after describing herself as a “former Gruppenführer” during a council debate.
The comment was made by Angela Harrison of Sheerness as she seconded fellow Labour councillor Simon Clark to become Swale council’s new deputy mayor.
The phrase immediately sparked outrage from the opposition.
Conservative councillor Cameron Beart (Queenborough and Halfway) took to social media straight away and on his private Facebook page and Twitter wrote: “I am absolutely shocked and appalled that Cllr Angela Harrison (Labour), cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Swale council has just referred to herself as a ‘former Gruppenführer’ of the Constituency Labour Party at a full council meeting!
“Hardly what I would consider an appropriate comment at a public meeting.”
The "great gruppenfuhrer" row began on Wednesday, February 24, when Cllr Harrison first uttered the phrase.
A week later, on March 3, Cllr Roger Truelove, the council’s leader and also leader of the Labour Group, accused Cllr Beart of making a "cheap and miserable political point around the sad death of a colleague" and insisted in a statement that Cllr Harrison's phrase had been part of a tribute to the late Labour Cllr Mark Ellen who died suddenly last month aged 72. Cllr Ellen was also the drummer with 70s pop band Vanity Fare.
Cllr Harrison, who represents Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, declined to comment but Cllr Truelove leapt to the defence of his health and wellbeing spokesman and explained: “During the council meeting my colleague Angela Harrison used the expression ‘gruppenfuhrer’ in support of a Labour colleague.
"During the meeting a member of the opposition flagged it up on social media. I found that unnecessary but councillors will do what they will do.”
He added: “Angela is self-deprecating and ironic and used this German expression, which means group leader, to refer to her past position of Labour Group leader. She was recalling that sometimes she had to discipline Mark and was nearly in tears. Of course, it doesn’t show any sympathy for 1930s Germany and no-one with any sense would think it does.”
Cllr Beart said he “stood by” his original post.
After listening to a recording of the meeting he said on March 4: "I have just checked, she (Cllr Harrison) made the comment at around 8pm, over an hour into the meeting and after the council's tribute to Cllr Ellen. Roger's version of events is entirely fictitious.
"She was not talking about Mark, she was talking about Simon Clark and she was not 'fighting back the tears', she was mocking previous speeches made by nominators."
On Monday, March 8, Cllr Truelove apologised and admitted he had "mis-remembered".
Cllr Beart replied: "Mis-remembered? He weaved an entire work of fiction. His statement went into such vivid detail of events that didn't happen in an attempt to defend a cabinet member and discredit a member of the opposition.
"The council's code of conduct sets out the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. In my opinion, the leader's actions fall short on all counts and should be investigated."
During the meeting Cllr Harrison was asked to second Cllr Truelove's nomination for Cllr Clark, an electrician and HGV driver who represents Homewood. She said: "I have known Simon for many years. He was one of my team when I was gruppenfuhrer many years ago."
Cllr Paul Stephen (Swale Independents Alliance, Woodstock) was voted mayor.
