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Statement on the use of language in public life
We the undersigned represent a range of political views in Swindon. We believe in plurality of politics and the freedom to disagree and to debate our differences. We join together in rejecting the use of divisive and hate-fuelled language that increases tensions and divisions in our society and that can lead to violence.
We remember and honour Jo Cox MP, who was murdered in a politically motivated hate-fuelled attack in 2016, and call for all parties in the debate over Brexit, and in politics more generally, to choose their words carefully. We do not subscribe to the rhetoric of ‘traitors’, ‘surrender’ or ‘betrayal’, whether we think those in power are behaving in our interests or not. We commit to debate and to fight for our interests in a manner that does not act as a catalyst to hate or violence.
We call upon everyone to show restraint in their use of language while legitimately questioning the actions of the Government and our own elected representatives.
We recognise that there will be many others who wish to add their names to this statement, and we encourage them to do so.
Sarah Church – Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon
Andy Bentley – Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Swindon
Steve Rouse – Chair of Swindon for Europe
Jamie Taylor – Swindon Liberal Democrats
Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn – Wroughton, former Parish Councillor, former Green Party Candidate
Zoe McCormick – Swindon for Europe, Extinction Rebellion and Swindon Liberal Democrats
Peter Dilly – Extinction Rebellion
Sarah Bowles – former Chiseldon Parish Councillor
Steve Thompson – Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon
Kate Linnegar – Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Swindon
Councillor Jim Grant – Leader of the Labour Group, Swindon Borough Council
Councillor Chris Watts – Chair, South Swindon Parish Council
Councillor Steve Allsopp – Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Swindon Borough Council
Councillor Stan Pajak – Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Swindon Borough Council
Councillor Janine Howarth – Chair of South Swindon Labour Party and Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South
Councillor Bazil Solomon – Swindon Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South
Councillor Jim Robbins – Swindon Borough Councillor for Mannington and Western
Councillor Claire Crilly – Swindon Borough Councillor for Penhill and Upper Stratton
Councillor Steph Exell – Swindon Borough Councillor for Mannington and Western
Councillor Andy Spry – Swindon Borough Councillor for Wroughton and Wichelstowe
Councillor Des Moffat – Swindon Borough Councillor for Rodbourne Cheney
Councillor Emma Bushell – Swindon Borough Councillor for Walcot and Park North
Councillor Ray Ballman – Swindon Borough Councillor for Gorse Hill and Pinehurst
Councillor Jane Milner-Barry – Swindon Borough Councillor for Old Town and East Wichel
Councillor Abdul Amin – Swindon Borough Councillor for Walcot and Park North
Councillor Paul Dixon – Swindon Borough Councillor for Eastcott
Councillor Kevin Small – Swindon Borough Councillor for Mannington and Western
Councillor Bob Wright – Swindon Borough Councillor for Central Ward
Councillor Nadine Watts – Swindon Borough Councillor for Old Town and East Wichel
Councillor Peter Watts – Swindon Borough Councillor for Rodbourne Cheney
Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh – Swindon Borough Councillor for Eastcott
Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh – Swindon Borough Councillor for Central Ward
Councillor John Ballman – Swindon Borough Councillor for Gorse Hill and Pinehurst
Councillor Fay Howard – Swindon Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South
Councillor Trish Philpot – West Swindon Parish Councillor
Councillor Patrick Herring – Chair Swindon Co-operative Party and South Swindon Parish Councillor
Geraint Day – Co-operative Party Committee member
Ken Kimber – Secretary Swindon Area Green Party
Simon Bleaken – South Swindon Green Party member
Amanda Neate
Michael Neate
Chantelle Smith – Wroughton, Green Party member
Samantha Wathen – Keep Our NHS Public Swindon Branch
Tony Hillier
Marilyn Beale
Brian Shakespeare
Sue Powell
Joan Orman, Wroughton
Lynne Humphries, Wroughton
John Gregory- Wroughton
Dr Adam Poole – Wroughton
Kathy Sterry – West Swindon
Steve Kendall
Linda Harrison
Kate Lock
Steve Kendall
Steve Harcourt – Wroughton
Alex Coppock-Bunce
Pippa Fairbourn – Student
Amanda Woodhead – Wroughton
Martin Dowdeswell – Swindon for Europe
Mike Swann– Swindon for Europe
Emma Brown– Swindon for Europe
Jo Collins– Swindon for Europe
Mike Walters– Swindon for Europe
Teri Dale– Swindon for Europe
Rev Wendy Tucker, Methodist Minister– Swindon for Europe
Nathalie Marshall– Swindon for Europe
Linda Bacon– Swindon for Europe
Victoria Fisher– Swindon for Europe
Carolyn Phillippo– Swindon for Europe
Boo Janga– Swindon for Europe
Leon Grother– Swindon for Europe
Lisa Aldersley – Extinction Rebellion
Joy Corrigan – Extinction Rebellion
Andy Day– Extinction Rebellion
Tristan Strange– Extinction Rebellion
Scott Aldersley– Extinction Rebellion
Lorraine Aldersley– Extinction Rebellion
Michelle Todd – Extinction Rebellion
Howard March – Swindon Green Party treasurer, Extinction Rebellion
Adele Walker, UK Citizen– Extinction Rebellion
Jamie Carr– Extinction Rebellion
John Ranford– Extinction Rebellion
Deirdre Levy– Extinction Rebellion
Lizzie Cambray– Extinction Rebellion
Linda Lee, Swindon Community Choir– Extinction Rebellion
Fraser McCormick – Swindon Liberal Democrats
Debra Smith– Swindon Liberal Democrats
Fiona McAnespie– Swindon Liberal Democrats
Joanna Marie Holbourn– Swindon Liberal Democrats
Rob Heath– Swindon Liberal Democrats
John Timbrell – President, Swindon Trades Council (personal capacity)
Andrew Whitford
Helena Bowie
Swindon Co-operative Party
Chris Fox, Swindon
Dave Griffiths – South Swindon Parish Councillor
Steve O’Neal – Secretary, Devizes Labour Party
Graham Philpot
John Lammin, Swindon
Richard Howroyd,
Michele Wortelhoek
Michael Proctor – Labour and Unite the Union Member
Susan Bell
Angela Jones
David Uren
Angus Geddes
Justine Taylor
Adi Whittington – Highworth
Simon George
Kerrie Stone
Jonathan Secker
Simon Bridewell
Merlina Waterworth
Amparo Torregrosa – Swindon for Europe
Jan Tucker
Ann Lovell
Stephen Henderson
Jacqui Barnes-Monaghan
Clarisse Grother