The leader of Liverpool Council has described protests at the town hall on Wednesday as 'threatening' and accused an opposition councillor of 'stoking up' the worrying scenes.
On Wednesday evening, a meeting of Liverpool Council's Neighbourhoods Committee was suspended and councillors had to be escorted out of a side door amid tense scenes involving around 30 protestors.
The protesters were holding signs peddling a number of conspiracy theories and suggested that Liverpool Council's Neighbourhood Model plan for delivering services was part of a bid to control people. One activist described the model as a 'top down, totalitarian regime.
Ten of the protesters were allowed in to view the meeting but after several interruptions they were asked to leave, before eventually being removed by security staff at the town hall.
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Liberal Democrat councillor Mirna Juarez told the meeting the protesters should be allowed to speak and was later seen in conversation with the group outside – she has since distanced herself from some of the messages being displayed by the group.
But council leader Liam Robinson said he was 'disappointed' by Cllr Juarez's actions on the night, believing she helped to 'stoke up' the protesters, who he described as 'threatening.'
He said: "First of all, I find it really strange that 30 people who have got the wrong end of the stick and are probably wound up by a number of false conspiracies, decided to protest in the very threatening way that they did.
"The Neighbourhood Model is about delivering frontline council services in a more localised way that works for communities in a better way than we have done in the past. Most big cities have a similar approach to this. Some of the theories that the group were saying, that they had on placards and leaflets were completely wide of the mark and nothing to do with this.
"While we always support people's right to peacefully protest, what really worries me is doing that in a very threatening manner and the consequences that can possibly have. Strange is probably the politest way I can describe the events of last night but worrying in the way that some people behaved.
"From everyone I have spoken to and the videos and pictures I have seen, what happened on Wednesday really worried me."
On Cllr Juarez, he added: "It was good that councillors from all parties acknowledged the seriousness of it and acted accordingly. What is disappointing is the way Mirna behaved that seemed to stoke it up and make it worse. I hope she reflects on it.
"Yes we all protect everyone's right to peacefully protest but when you see some of the ways people behaved, some of the stuff flying around social media and the threatening nature of it, it probably would be best if she came out and said firmly that while she protects their right to protest, what they are saying is wrong. I hope she would retract some of the stuff she has done."
"If it was a member of my group I would have taken some quite decisive action about that but I will take that up with Carl as the leader of the Liberal Democrats and I hope it will be dealt with appropriately."
Speaking to the ECHO,. Cllr Juarez defended her actions on Wednesday. She said: "I’m not a conspiracy theorist but governments and councils need to do more to clarify things so people don’t get carried away with conspiracy theories.
“As I went in, they seemed like quite okay people, they don’t run around causing trouble. I spoke to a nurse who was there who was really worried. They just wanted clarification, that’s why they were there. I agree every ward is different and people are worried they won’t get the services they need and it could be like the way London is going and they’re charging people to get about.
“I am a liberal, I agree with being a transparent council allowing debate to carry on. Anyone who wants to bring a concern to the council should be allowed to.”
Cllr Juarez, who has represented the Liberal Democrats since 2012 across two stints in what is now the new Much Woolton and Hunts Cross ward, said she felt the protestors had been “demonised” as a group “even though they are ordinary members of the public.” She added: “There were a lot of elderly residents who could barely walk, some of them currently live in the ward I represent.”
Cllr Carl Cashman, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, stood by his colleague but sought to condemn any inappropriate conduct. He said: “Mirna’s primary concern has been that she felt some elderly people who were there were being drowned out by the protestors.
“We support the neighbourhood model and anything that gives power back to communities and allows decisions to be made locally. When the Liberal Democrats were in power, we did that through the neighbourhood forums and the Labour Party did away with it."
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