Religion row disrupts council

10:05pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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A ROW broke out at a council meeting over the presence of some members during the opening prayers.

Councillor Doug Mills, a Conservative cabinet member, when answering a question about community cohesion at a full meeting of Hillngdon Council tonight, accused some Labour councillors of ignoring their duties to all their constituents by not attending the prayer session.

He said: "They have a duty to respect all religions and I think their failure to turn up regularly to prayers is not a sign of that respect.

"If it had been a Muslim doing prayers and we Conservatives had stayed outside, they would accuse us of being racist."

He was refering to some of the Labour representatives who arrived at the meeting after the regular prayer had been said at the start of meeting, tonight in the Christian tradition.

But Labour councillors reacted with anger at Cllr Mills suggestions, asking for his comments to be retracted, with cries of "shame, shame" ringing across the council chamber.

Councillor Anthony Way, leader of the Labour group on the council, said: "That is out of order.

"I found it reprehensible and hope I never hear the like again in this chamber."

Cllr Mills turned his attention especially towards Councillor Sidharath Garg, who is the prospective parliamentary Labour candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip He said: "He is not just an ordinary backbench councillor, he has put himself up for higher office.

"He has a higher duty to represent all his potential constituents."

Labour councillors argued it was a matter of personal preference, but the heated debate was cut short as Councillor Brian Crowe, Mayor of Hillingdon, insisted on a return to the question session.