A POLITICAL party has caused a storm after it described the leaders of Colchester Council and Essex County Council as “well-fed”.
Colchester Liberal Democrats made the comment towards senior Conservatives Paul Dundas and Kevin Bentley in a tweet on Sunday evening.
Lib Dem and Mile End councillor Martin Goss stated the party in no way endorses body shaming and the tweet had been taken out of context.
But Mr Dundas says the party’s intent to “fat-shame” him was “very clear” as the tweet followed one about Colchester Foodbank.
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He said: “I make no bones about the fact I’m fat, I won’t deny it to anybody. I think anybody struggling with their weight recognises the difficulty of losing it.
“We’re meant to be encouraging more people to be getting involved in politics.
"We don’t need to be making snide remarks when we all get on behind the scenes.
11. Lesley is up against the 'well fed' Tory bigwigs, Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley and Colchester Tory leader Paul Dundas. They are supported by their colleague Jeremy Hagon.
— Colchester Liberal Democrats (@LD4Colchester) March 6, 2022
“The whole thing is a storm in a teacup to be honest, but if we start calling people silly names then where does it stop?
“I’m not offended at all by such things but some people would be and would find it very hurtful. I think the right thing to do is delete the tweet and apologise.”
Essex County Council’s leader Kevin Bentley added he fears it will put off “good people” from getting involved in local politics in fear of personal attacks.
He said: “What does worry me is what it reflects on politics today. If you have to resort to personal attacks then it means you have no policies to debate.
“If this is what people have to come down to it’s silly. It’s symptomatic of social media that people feel they can say whatever they want with no consequence.
“I’ve been in politics for 20 years so these things don’t really upset me, as a politician I’m used to taking attacks and knocks from all angles but it could hurt someone less thickskinned.”
Mr Goss told the Gazette: “The tweet is in no way an endorsement of body shaming and has nothing to do with any shape or weight.
“The twitter administrator simply meant the Conservative party is well resourced.”
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