UNDER-FIRE COUNCILLOR FACES SACK

IAIN.ROBINSON@THESENTINEL.CO.UK

09:40 - 21 April 2008

City councillor Gavin Webb could be thrown off a school's board of governors after making controversial calls to legalise heroin and prostitution.  Liberal Democrat (Libertarian) councillor Gavin Webb's position is being reviewed after publicly expressing controversial views.

Thistley Hough High School, in Penkhull, could now decide to sack him from its board of governors.

The chair of governors, Gill Miller, said she is seeking advice on Mr Webb's position in light of complaints about comments he has made.

She said: "I have alerted the governing support unit at the city council and the governing body is currently considering Mr Webb's position."

Talking about drugs, Mr Webb said: "I believe we should legalise the lot, including the most harmful substance heroin."

He has also described the police's drug-busting Operation Nemesis as a "waste of money".

He has also said: "The only person one can trust in protecting one's own life, is oneself. That is why I also advocate that individuals should have the right to carry a handgun."

Other controversial views expressed by Mr Webb include that drink-driving is not a crime, that brothels should be legal and that Britain's borders should be opened up to anyone who wants to enter the country.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Liberal Democrat group leader, Councillor Jean Bowers, said she was concerned about some of the comments Mr Webb has made in recent weeks. She said a member of the public had contacted her to complain about some of his views.

Mr Webb, pictured, said he is aware that some of his views were unpopular, and could even jeopardise his position as a governor.

He said: "I am getting flak from various people, but part of the role of politicians is to tell people to take responsibility for their own lives, instead of blaming other people."

"At the end of the day, it's up the board of school governors whether they support me or sack me."

Many of Mr Webb's controversial statements were made on The Sentinel's website.

Mr Webb is also being investigated by the Standards Board of England after an alleged four-letter outburst at a fellow councillor.

Terrible, eh?  Imagine a free-thinking individual with classical liberal views having responsibility for helping to educate kids!  Imagine where that could lead - you could have a generation of kids growing up with the habit of thinking for themselves instead of relying on their "betters" in the political and media classes.

Notice that the leader of the Liberal Democrat group was quick to stab Councillor Webb in the back.  I understand from Ziggy Encaoua of the Open Liberty Alliance that Councillor Webb has now been suspended from his party.  It seems the "Lib" Dems aren't too tolerant of people expressing liberal views.

Councillor Webb, if you happen to read this - there's a good home waiting for you in the Libertarian Party if you want it.  We're small, we're underfunded and we don't yet have a political organisation to match the "Lib" Dems - but we are allowed (encouraged, even) to think and speak for ourselves.