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Nazi salute Plymouth councillor Jonny Morris suspended Nazi salute Plymouth councillor Jonny Morris suspended
(about 3 hours later)
A city councillor who made a Nazi salute during a meeting has been suspended.A city councillor who made a Nazi salute during a meeting has been suspended.
Jonny Morris, a Labour councillor in Plymouth, made the gesture in protest after Conservative members voted to end a debate on the rise of council tax.Jonny Morris, a Labour councillor in Plymouth, made the gesture in protest after Conservative members voted to end a debate on the rise of council tax.
Labour group leader Tudor Evans confirmed Mr Morris was suspended "immediately" after the meeting.
Mr Morris said he "apologised unreservedly" but was "very angry at the closing down of debate".Mr Morris said he "apologised unreservedly" but was "very angry at the closing down of debate".
Mr Evans said: "I think we've moved as quickly as we can to make it very clear that we're not happy about it", said Mr Evans. MP for Plymouth, Johnny Mercer, called on Mr Morris to resign, calling the Labour councillors a "vile group".
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that they have been made aware of the incident, which is being treated as a public order offence.
Labour group leader Tudor Evans said: "I think we've moved as quickly as we can to make it very clear that we're not happy about it".
"The Labour Party takes this sort of thing very seriously, and so we took steps last night to suspend him - pending an investigation - because we don't condone this sort of thing.""The Labour Party takes this sort of thing very seriously, and so we took steps last night to suspend him - pending an investigation - because we don't condone this sort of thing."
More on the councillor making a Nazi salute, and other Devon newsMore on the councillor making a Nazi salute, and other Devon news
The gesture was branded "an utter disgrace" by other councillors at the meeting.The gesture was branded "an utter disgrace" by other councillors at the meeting.
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer described the pending investigation as "waffling", and said it's an "open and shut case".
"Doing a Nazi salute anywhere is clearly completely inappropriate, I don't know what possesses someone to do that sort of thing - it's incredibly offensive," said Mr Mercer.
"That Plymouth is being talked about today because a councillor has done this in a council debate is embarrassing - for me and for Plymouth."
The budget meeting saw councillors narrowly vote in favour of increasing council tax bills by 4.49 per cent.The budget meeting saw councillors narrowly vote in favour of increasing council tax bills by 4.49 per cent.
Mr Evans said the Nazi salute had caused a distraction from the issues.Mr Evans said the Nazi salute had caused a distraction from the issues.
"I'm now talking about this when I should be talking about the fact that the Tories have just just levied their third highest council tax rise in Plymouth's history," he said."I'm now talking about this when I should be talking about the fact that the Tories have just just levied their third highest council tax rise in Plymouth's history," he said.
Local authorities warned last week that services face cuts despite council tax increases of up to 4.99 per cent to help pay for elderly social care.