Councillors deny reading racist e-mail (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Councillors deny reading racist e-mail

4:11pm Monday 6th November 2006 in News By Sarah Singleton

Councillors on the circulation list for the racist e-mail sent by Tory candidate Ellie Bland have denied even looking at it.

North Wiltshire District Councillor John Ireland said he received the email but deleted it immediately.

He said he had no comment to make on its content or whether it was appropriate material for Coun Bland to send.

"Presumably it was a private thing sent out as a joke but it's not my kind of humour," he said.

Coun Mercy Baggs said she hadn't seen it at all."I do not know why she would send it. I just can't see her sending it," she said.

"I just could not imagine why she would do it."

Town and county councillor Tony Trotman also denied seeing the email.

"I must admit I haven't seen it," he said. "I can't comment on it if I haven't seen it."

Coun Toby Sturgis, former leader of the Conservative party at the district council, said he hadn't seen or heard about the email.

"This is really a matter for the Calne constituency to deal with," he said.