Hartlepool Brexit Party councillor resigns over 'hideous' TV comments

Manor House councillor David Mincher has had the whip withdrawn from him by the party for what they called ‘appalling’ and ‘heinous’ comments he is understood to have made to an undercover Channel 4 News reporter.

The party says it has also referred Mr Mincher to Hartlepool Borough Council’s solicitor for a potential breach of the rules of conduct of councillors.

Mr Mincher, who was elected in May 2019 as a UKIP councillor and joined the Brexit Party-led coalition on Hartlepool Borough Council in September, has apologised and resigned from the council.

His comments are alleged to have been made during the party’s campaigning in Hartlepool, but cannot be reported in detail for legal reasons.

Richard Tice, chairman of the Brexit Party, who is standing in Hartlepool in this week’s General Election, said: “Channel 4 alerted us late on Friday of some appalling comments made to one of its many undercover reporter teams who have been following the Brexit Party.

“We took immediate action within hours by removing the whip from an independently elected local councillor, who had come over to the Brexit Party in September; we also dismissed a semi retired part time employee of a regional office.

“Both I and the Brexit Party totally condemn the hideous remarks in question in the strongest possible terms.

“I would take the gravest exception to any attempt by Channel 4 to suggest that I or the Brexit Party in any way share, condone or was aware of these views and matters.”

Mr Mincher’s profile page on the council website was taken down on Monday, December 9.

He told the Mail: “I have put my resignation in with the council.

“All I can do at the moment is just apologise.”

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesman confirmed Mr Mincher handed in his resignation on Monday.

The other candidates fighting for the Hartlepool constituency on Thursday, December 12, are, in alphabetical order, Joe Bousfield (Independent), Kevin Cranney (Socialist Labour Party), Andy Hagon (Liberal Democrats), Mike Hill (Labour), Stefan Richard Houghton (Conservative).