Two Bexley councillors are at war following the “vile” and “hateful” protest which led to the eviction of over 20 asylum seekers in Sidcup.
The demonstration happened in Penhill Road on July 10 and sparked fury among other residents.
In a Bexley Council meeting on Wednesday, Labour Councillor Danny Hackett ripped into a tabled question put forward by UKIP’s Chris Beazley.
It read: “Due to the effect of uncontrolled immigration we have now seen an increase of unlicensed HMOs in the borough. Can you please apply article 4 so that we can control and monitor the effect that this is having on local communities?”
Protesting residents in Penhill Road
When contacted by News Shopper, Cllr Hackett slammed Cllr Beazley’s “bigoted” and “xenophobic” question, claiming that immigration was “uncontrollable”.
However Cllr Beazley responded by insisting his question was about the issue of uncontrolled immigration in the UK, and not just in Bexley.
The argument between the two councillors comes after a protest took place in Penhill Road when the Home Office moved more than 20 refugees into a property, which was not approved by Bexley Council.
The demonstration was labelled “vile” and “hateful” by local pro-refugee residents.
Cllr Hackett, 22, said: “There was no need to mention immigration. We saw what happened in Penhill Road, it was disgusting and appalling. And also on social media, there were nasty comments.
Labour Councillor Danny Hackett
“We should be welcoming the refugees and bringing them here to get work and raise a family. That question last night, from a serving councillor, was irresponsible.
“I remember my grandparents telling me stories about going to bars and seeing 'no blacks', 'no dogs' and 'no Irish' signs – we don’t want to see something like that ever again.”
The ward councillor for Lesnes Abbey added: “Many students live in HMOs nowadays, and to try and blame the increase on immigrants is typical of UKIP.
Pleased to have called out bigoted, small minded and xenophobic question from UKIP last night. No place in #Bexley. pic.twitter.com/GlZiZDFseP
— Danny Hackett (@DannyHackett) 21 July 2016
@DannyHackett Please to see that @BexleyLabour are still out of touch. You are racist if you mention UNCONTROLLED immigration & it's effect
— Cllr Beazley (@CllrBeazley) 21 July 2016
“The council has no control over immigration. Cllr Beazley’s question was small-minded and showed him as a bigot – he should be ashamed of himself.”
Cllr Beazley, 46, responded: “The actual question I submitted in regards to immigration was in April.
WATCH: ‘Do I look like a terrorist?’ ‘Yeah, you do’: Footage emerges from ‘hateful’ protest
“An anti-HMO petition was started by residents in Winchester Road in Welling near to where I live. I had meetings with the residents and was quite involved with it.
UKIP Councillor Chris Beazley
“This was before the referendum and before the Penhill Road protest in Sidcup. I think he’s [Cllr Hackett] got his wires crossed.”
The ward councillor for St. Michael’s added: “Danny just hears the word ‘immigration’ and thinks ‘you are a racist’. I’m not a racist.
“There’s just a lack of housing - if you have a bath overflowing, you don’t keep the water running, you turn the tap off and try and resolve the situation.
“That’s what we should be doing with immigration.”
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