Opposition councillors call for Ferryhill Mayor's resignation

Ferryhill Mayor Councillor Richard Smith faced criticism at the weekend when it emerged he had shared posts on his personal Facebook page including an anti-gay pride activist's video and a video headlined "Group of Muslims attack a Jewish family and their little children".

• Council committed to 'equality and inclusivity'

Cllr Smith, a pastor at the town’s Immanuel Christian Fellowship, has since deleted those posts and said that they had nothing to do with his role as Mayor, to which he was elected last month.

But last night, the eight Labour members of Ferryhill Town Council, issued a joint statement calling for his resignation.

It read: “We, the Labour councillors of Ferryhill Town Council, want to make it very clear that we do not condone discrimination in any shape or form, be it homophobia, gender, age, race or religion.

We are seeking an extraordinary meeting of Ferryhill Town Council where we will ask for the resignation of the town mayor and his supporters with immediate effect.

We have been accused of trying to make political gain through our actions, NOT TRUE. Ferryhill is a good decent place to live with decent, hardworking people. We want to see Ferryhill free of hate which is being directed towards certain members of our community, and that is unacceptable for us.”

Councillor Smith is the council’s first independent chairman in a century.

If he and any supporters were to resign and a by-election was called Labour could regain the majority on the council.

Cllr Smith said he had taken advice and declined to comment at this stage.

Ferryhill Town Council yesterday issued a statement to reassure residents it is "committed to equality and inclusivity".

This morning it has announced that, after careful consideration, the Mayor has decided to cancel a coffee morning he was due to host at Dean Bank and Ferryhill Literary Institute this Saturday. It is hoped the event will be rescheduled for next month, the spokesperson added.