The Southport Liberal Democrat Group has denied an implication from Jacob Rees-Mogg that they are co-operating with Damien Moore in opposition to the Council’s cycle lane proposals.
Southport Conservatives have strongly opposed Sefton’s cycle lane proposal to install an arterial route from Plough Roundabout to Ainsdale. Southport Liberal Democrats have also opposed the plans, while cautiously maintaining broader support to workable cycle lane schemes.
The Sefton Council ‘Your Streets Your Say’ consultation closes this Sunday.
In the House of Commons yesterday, when asked a question by Damien Moore MP over the cycle lanes plans, Jacob Rees-Mogg replied: “I hear gossip that [Damien Moore] is actually working in collaboration with the Liberal Democrats in his area against these schemes which shows how completely lunatic they must be to have created an alliance between my honourable friend and the ‘Yellow Peril’.”
Mr Rees-Mogg later apologised for his use of the term ‘Yellow Peril’ after members of the opposition pointed out racial connotations, saying he was not aware of the connection.
In last week’s full council meeting, Liberal Democrat councillors tabled a motion calling for a “moratorium” on the cycle lane plans that would have seen them temporarily halted and a cross party working group formed to reassess the proposal. This motion was defeated, as was a Conservative amendment that would have changed the motion to halting the plans outright.
On behalf of the Southport Liberal Democrat group, John Pugh told OTS News: “There has been no direct co-operation with the Conservatives other than me suggesting that they back my call for moratorium and I have been very critical of Tory MPs for supporting the first wave of cycle lanes without consultation.
Fast Track Cycle Lanes by John Pugh – This video is external content not produced by OTS News.
“However it’s pleasing that our efforts in opposing the dafter dimensions of the current schemes have been noticed by the Leader of the house and in Westminster.
“I do not think the employment of the phrase “Yellow Peril”, however unthinking, was intended by Jacob Rees-Mogg as a deliberate racist slur, but more probably reflects his recognition that in seats like Southport it’s only the Liberal Democrats that present an enduring threat to Conservative dominance.
“That’s what history seems to show. ”
Mr Moore’s office declined to comment on the exchange in parliament when approached yesterday.
The Sefton Council ‘Your Streets Your Say’ consultation closes this Sunday.
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