Hackney Council meeting ends in farce amid accusations of Standards Committee ‘bias’

Scene of rumpus: Hackney Town Hall. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

A Hackney Council meeting ended in farce last night when Speaker of Hackney Councillor Michael Desmond threatened to exclude Lib Dem councillor Abraham Jacobson from the chamber.

Cllr Jacobson erupted in anger at 10pm during a discussion of a report on the Standards Committee’s censuring of Tory councillor Michael Levy.

Cllr Jacobson accused Labour’s Patrick Vernon of alleging he “smeared” independent members of the committee, which passes judgment on the conduct of councillors.

The Lib Dem councillor, who represents Cazenove ward, had accused the Standards Committee of being biased in favour of the Labour Party – something denied by Deputy Mayor Sophie Linden and others on the Labour benches.

Exclusion threat: Cllr Abraham Jacobson

Amid acrimonious shouting from both sides of the chamber, Cllr Desmond adjourned the meeting.

He resumed it 10 minutes later, saying he had received promises from both sides to remain civil.

‘Order!’: Speaker of Hackney Michael Desmond

Plans to curb noise, crime and anti-social behaviour in Dalston – styled as a clampdown on nightlife by opponents – were voted through earlier in the evening.

Under the Special Policy Area rules applications for new late night Dalston clubs and bars will only be granted in “exceptional” circumstances.

Related:

‘Clampdown’ on late night joints as Dalston Special Policy Area approved by Hackney Council