Independent councillor Marc Hince has apologised after suggesting in a spoof video that men from Saddleworth have sex with animals because the women in the area are 'ugly'. The Oldham councillor, who represents Shaw, made the comments in a social media exchange with a man named Ricky JT Briggs, who styles himself as 'the King of Saddleworth'.
The Manchester Evening News understands the videos were meant as jest, but in what Hince described as a joke appeal on a Facebook page called The Traveller Bible, he said: “There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind you’re the king of Saddleworth. That’s not in dispute. We all know what they’re like up in Saddleworth.” Hince then used a term widely considered homophobic, which the newspaper chose not to repeat, and said men want to have sex with their animals 'because the women are that ugly'.
Apology and Context
Hince said he was 'asked to do a spoof video on a well-known traveller website which is banter-based' and the comments were not meant to offend. He suggested some 'right wing platforms' criticising him were hypocritical for not criticising other political figures for controversial remarks. Responding to Liberal Democrat criticism over using a homophobic slur, Hince said: “Clearly this was not meant in those terms, and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. To be clear it was meant as banter and said in that context.”
Public Reaction
Residents in Uppermill, Saddleworth, did not find the comments funny. Lisa Anderson said: “I feel quite offended living in Uppermill myself and it’s simply not true is it? It’s just a bit of a childish thing to say.” She added: “I would have thought that somebody who is a councillor would have known better to even say that as a joke. I am astounded that somebody said that, especially a councillor.” Julie Hilton said: “It’s a very disparaging comment. I don’t know why. What have people in Saddleworth done to them, particularly the ladies?” She added: “I think he needs to be very careful about what he says. That just says a lot about him and nobody else.”
Donna Chapman, from Delph, said: “I think for any area, for someone to say anything like that is disgraceful. It’s disgusting really. You couldn’t pick a nicer part of the world to live.” When asked if she accepted the apology, she said: “I think he shouldn’t be in a position like he is to be speaking like that. Not at all.” Lesley, who lives in Shaw but visits Uppermill, said: “It’s just incredible. Politicians, you lose faith in all parties. It’s actually unacceptable. You wouldn’t accept it from a friend even if it’s banter so why on earth would you accept it from an elected politician? I can’t quite believe that anybody would even say that as a joke. It’s really disappointing. It’s not very inclusive. It’s rude, a lack of manners and just rude. I am so glad I didn’t vote for him and I would never vote for him at all now.”
Political Criticism
Liberal Democrat leader Sam Al-Hamdani, who represents part of Saddleworth, said: “The whole video is extraordinary. Whether he’s commenting on his role as a councillor or not, I cannot understand how Councillor Hince can think it’s remotely acceptable to make public comments like that about residents of Oldham. Councillors have a responsibility to champion their area, and I don’t know how he thinks he can do his job properly when he is on the record making statements like this. He needs to take a good hard look in the mirror, and ask himself if he thinks this is an acceptable way to behave as a public servant.”
Hince responded: “The comments I made were not intended to cause offence and were obviously not meant as a statement of fact. They were made in a humorous context during an online interaction on a Travellers Facebook page – with somebody claiming to be the King of Saddleworth. The Liberal Democrats know this. Yet they choose to use this to try to generate outrage towards me, which is a continuation of a long-standing campaign against me.” The Liberal Democrats rejected this claim, but Hince referenced a closed investigation into four Liberal Democrat councillors over a leaked recording of a private meeting. An 18-month investigation concluded that Coun Mark Kenyon had breached the councillor’s code of conduct on three counts after placing a device next to the door of the then-council leader Arooj Shah’s office. An independent investigation also found three other councillors breached rules due to 'a failure to co-operate with a code of conduct investigation'.
Hince concluded: “I have many friends in Saddleworth and appreciate the area greatly, to try to portray this as a serious debate is frankly absurd. However now this has been taken into a wider domain. I sincerely apologise for my attempt at humour and any offence which may be caused.”
