Councillor raises human rights issues in new bid to remove Councillor Mike Buckley from office

Cllr Rob Knotts

Reporter: Stuart Littleford 

Issues around the human rights of children have been raised at the meeting of Saddleworth Parish Council on Monday in a new bid to remove Councillor Mike Buckley from office following his conviction for downloading indecent images of children.

In a statement made to the council at the meeting, Independent Councillor, Rob Knotts said he believed there were good grounds to remove Cllr Buckley from office for failing to take into account the “human rights” of the children when he had downloaded the indecent images.

In part of his oral statement Cllr Knotts said: “The European Convention on Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, from the point of view of us as public officials the Ministry of Justice published a book ‘Human Rights: Human Lives’ as a handbook for public authorities.

“It states public authorities have an obligation to act in accordance with the European Union’s Convention on Human Rights and therefore public officials must understand human rights and take them into accounts in their day to day work.

“The downloading of indecent images of children contributes to and supports an offensive and degrading industry and exploits children. Anyone downloading such images shows an utter contempt and total disrespect for the human rights of the children involved and actions by anybody who fails to respect human rights casts extremely serious doubts on his or her integrity a person and a councillor.”

He also demanded that the council should “request the resignation” of any councillor who’s behaviour violates the European Convention on Human Rights.

The council agreed that it would take advice on Cllr Knotts statement to the council regarding this matter.

The Chairman of the council also agreed, after further questions, to write to all councillors to remind them of the policy that any member of Saddleworth Parish Council convicted of a child sex offence will be asked to resign – this follows the passing of a motion in April 2016.

Last week three councillors walked out of the Parish Council meeting for a fourth time in protest at Cllr Buckley’s presence, saying they found it “abhorrent” that Cllr Buckley can still be included, and that in their opinion members of the council feel his “expertise is more important than the safety of children in Saddleworth”.

Cllr Mike Buckley

In a statement to Saddleworth News this week, Cllr Buckley said: “My passion has always been for Saddleworth. I have a job to do on the Parish Council, a job I was democratically elected to carry out. I will continue working to support those who elected me and those who seek my help.

“I also intend to continue my involvement in Planning and other Saddleworth issues, defending and protecting Saddleworth, wherever I can, against inappropriate development and other threats. I will not allow my campaigns to be silenced by vested interests in the media or from elsewhere.”

Councillor Katrina Roman, told Saddleworth News, that Cllr Buckley’s statement around planning was “ludicrous” as he has been removed from every committee and from having any involvement in the Planning Committee. And that to serve in the best interests he must resign.

Cllr Buckley told has since told Saddleworth News: “I was voted off all committees earlier in the year. I am now dealing with planning issues directly with OMBC and still pursuing local campaigns such as Brownhill Bridge and the stepping stones as well as helping constituents.

“There is a lot more to being a councillor than sitting on committees, most of which, to be honest, achieve very little.”

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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