Lancashire County Councillor accused of 'ableist' Stevie Wonder comparison
‘Personal remarks about a candidate’s appearance are a different matter entirely’ A blistering row has broken out after a council by election candidate was described as a Stevie Wonder lookalike.
A Reform UK councillor who serves on Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Council has been branded ableist, after describing a disabled Labour by-election candidate as a ‘Stevie Wonder lookalike’.
The furore unfolded over the weekend, following Cllr Joel Tetlow’s comment on social media beneath a photo of the Hyndburn Labour group canvassing ahead of the upcoming Huncoat by-election.
The poll is being held on Nov 12, following the death of long-serving councillor Dave Parkins in September, and will be a close race between Labour and Reform. The latter received 49 per cent of the vote in the traditionally Labour seat at May’s Local Elections.
Labour’s candidate for the by-election, Jackie Rawstron, who is visually impaired and uses a walking aid, shared the canvassing picture on Saturday (October 17), with the caption: “Had a fantastic few hours out and about delivering some leaflets and meeting lots of you on the doorstep. Loads of support which was lovely. I really appreciate each and every lovely message I get”.
Responding to a member of the public asking which person in the group photo was Ms Rawstron, Cllr Tetlow made a comparison to the blind American musician, saying: “The Stevie Wonder lookalike”.
This has led to a furious condemnation from Labour politicians in Hyndburn, with the MP, council leader, and the party’s candidate, all putting out statements about standards in public life and ableism.
Sarah Smith MP, said: “Political disagreement is a normal and necessary part of democracy. Personal remarks about a candidate’s appearance are a different matter entirely.
“Every candidate, elected representative and political volunteer, deserves to be able to participate in public life without being subjected to personal attacks. We should be encouraging people with disabilities to take part in our democracy, not contributing to an environment in which individuals are judged or ridiculed for how they look, or the aids that they use.
“Jackie is registered with a sight impairment making her time as a local candidate even more difficult.
“This isn’t just a stand-alone event, for Reform UK or Councillor Tetlow, just last year we saw his social media post featuring Adolf Hitler. We are seeing a significant rise in this nasty political discourse both locally and nationally, and I will stand with any candidate, from any party who falls victim to these personal attacks.
“That is why I am calling on Nigel Farage and the Hyndburn Reform Group to take this matter seriously and suspend Councillor Tetlow while the comments are investigated.”
Leader of Hyndburn Council, Councillor Munsif Dad said: “Cllr Tetlow has made a number of questionable comments over recent months, and it is time he was held accountable for his actions.
“He should own his remarks, apologise publicly to Jackie and recognise the responsibility that comes with the position he now holds.
“He is no longer simply a keyboard warrior making comments from behind a screen. He is an elected district Councillor and member of the County Council, and with those positions comes a responsibility to behave in a manner befitting a public representative.
“Residents deserve better. Jackie deserves a public apology, and the public deserves to see that those elected to represent them are prepared to take responsibility for their words and actions. I am calling on the party leadership to take this matter seriously and act accordingly.”
Labour’s candidate for Huncoat Jackie Rawstron said: “I have thick skin, and I know what matters most to me – doing the very best I can for the place I come from [Huncoat] and the people who call it home.
“The comment from Cllr Tetlow is shocking, and my family are understandably really upset, but I will not let it stop me from trying to make a positive difference.
“I’m proud of where I’m from, proud to stand up for my community, and focused on the good people of Huncoat. My priority will always be the place I call home and the people I want to represent.”
Disability rights advocate and Hyndburn resident Zack Kerr also responded to the comments, saying: “This is not good enough from a Local Councillor, Jackie should be able to serve as a candidate without the added pressure of being called out for her disability. He’s not going to get very far in local politics with comments like that”
But Cllr Tetlow, who represents Accrington North at the county council and Milnshaw at Hyndburn Council, has hit back at the accusations of discrimination, arguing that his comment has been misrepresented.
Cllr Tetlow said: ” I categorically deny the accusation of ableism. The comment was a joke about the way a photograph appeared and how the candidate was standing, not a reference to disability. To suggest otherwise is a misrepresentation of both the comment and my intentions.
“I believe political opponents are again attempting to weaponise an off-the-cuff social media remark for political purposes. While I accept that some people may not have understood the joke, any claim that it was motivated by prejudice against disabled people is completely false.
“I have great respect for people living with disabilities and would never deliberately mock or discriminate against anyone because of a disability. I am currently classed as disabled because of an operation four years ago, where the NHS installed a plate incorrectly and as such I cannot lift my arm.
“We all deal with our own disabilities, some of which are seen and some that aren’t.
“The main question though, if a candidate can be offended by such a small comment, are they cut out to be a councillor. The public need to think on that when voting on the 12th November.”
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