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A Leicester councillor has been sanctioned for saying Labour colleagues were given political posts because of the colour of their skin.

Steve Corrall has been judged to have breached Leicester City Council’s code of conduct with remarks he made about the authority’s choice of members it sends to sit on the Leicestershire Police and Crime Panel.

The panel is the body appointed to hold Labour police and crime commissioner Lord Willy Bach to account.

Coun Corrall, a former lord mayor of Leicester, was one of the four Labour members chosen to represent the city council on the 13-strong body.

A complaint was made about him after he suggested a colleague on the panel was only picked to sit on it "because he is black".

An investigation was launched as a result, and yesterday the city council’s standards committee found Coun Corrall to be in breach of several council rules.

The investigation report says Coun Corrall was as at a pre-meeting of the police and crime panel at County Hall, Glenfield, on June 4.

Before it started he was discussing with others present whether a certain person, identified only as Councillor Z, would attend.

Coun Corrall then said Coun Z "only got the job because he is black".

He went on to complain about Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby "appointing all these brown faces to political positions".

Alex Oram, the author of the investigation report, said Coun Corrall had been frustrated by Coun Z’s previous lack attendance at meetings, but made a serious error of judgement with his comments.

What did Coun Corrall say?

Coun Corrall did not attend the standards hearing at City Hall yesterday, but a letter he wrote was read out.

In it, he said: "I write to apologise for not attending the hearing today.

“I am suffering from extreme stress following, not just the complaint being discussed, but the recent loss of my father a couple of months ago and continuing efforts to deal with his estate, and personal illness while I continue my work as a councillor.

“While I cannot recollect saying the words the complainant mentions in his statement, I would never impugn his integrity by saying otherwise.

“I have no explanation as to why I would have said those words.

“I am completely mortified that I ever said such things.

“This is not in my nature and, had I been challenged on that day, I would have apologised most profusely for my words."

'Complete mental aberration'

He added: “I can only think that I had a complete mental aberration that day.

“I wish to make a full, complete and unequivocal apology for using those words.

“I want to apologise to those people I have offended.”

Coun Corrall said the matter was a totally isolated incident that was entirely out of character for him.

He added that he had spent nearly 16 years as a hard working and conscientious councillor with an unblemished record.

The committee found that Coun Corrall acted in a disrespectful manner, with his remarks going beyond allowable criticism and crossing the line into personal abuse.

He was also found to have not upheld the council’s equality obligations, and to have acted in a manner likely to bring the council into disrepute.

The former mayor also failed to act in way that showed proper leadership and that preserved public confidence.

Coun Corrall has been ordered to apologise to Coun Z and another person who heard his comments.

It was also recommended the Labour group or Sir Peter remove him from any positions on external organisations on which he represents the city council.

Considering his position

Coun Corrall has already said he will not be seeking re-election in May, and after the hearing he told Leicestershire Live he was considering immediately resigning as the member for Braunstone and Rowley Fields.

He said: “I am ashamed of myself and I am considering my position.

“These are not words I use.

“I will be harder on myself than any sanctions could be."