A Christian councillor from the Green Party who refused to toe the line on redefining marriage is facing an internal inquiry described by one critic as the “worst kind of totalitarian politics”.
Christina Summers was the only elected member on Brighton and Hove City Council not to vote in favour of lobbying the Government over the issue.
Following her move, an internal party inquiry has been set up – and Cllr Summers has also been subjected to abusive emails from outside the council.
Vicious
She said: “The response to the way I debated has been very vicious, but it doesn’t surprise me.
“Whenever, I or any Christian touches on issues of life or identity it does elicit a very, very violent response with very strong accusatory language.”
Cllr Summers is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
Coerce
The group’s CEO Andrea Minichiello Williams criticised the Greens’ actions calling them “disturbing”.
She commented: “Trying to coerce people into being loyal to the party above being loyal to their individual conscience calls to mind the worst kind of totalitarian politics.”
Brighton Council’s Phelim Mac Cafferty, also a Green Party councillor, said party councillors had met and had “requested that the party’s official inquiry process be initiated to ensure a fair, speedy and transparent outcome”.
He added: “It is for the inquiry panel to determine if any further action may be needed and it wouldn’t be appropriate to say any more at this stage.”