COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

He appears in videos shaking hands, hugging, and saluting the camera





A senior Coventry councillor who was filmed flouting social distancing rules at a large gathering which was broken up by police is being investigated by the city council.

Cllr Tariq Khan, Labour councillor for Foleshill, was filmed shaking hands and hugging people, receiving a garland and posing for photos before saluting to the camera.

Games of volleyball were also filmed being played at the gathering.

Police were called to the incident at Edgwick Park in Foleshill, on Sunday, August 23, amid concerns social distancing was not being adhered to.

The cabinet member for communities and housing is yet to respond to media enquiries.

Coventry Labour party group leader Cllr George Duggins is also yet to respond on the incident and if any action will be taken by the group.

Cllr Khan was absent from a full council meeting today (September 8).

The incident was mentioned at full council by Cllr Glenn Williams, who asked the cabinet member for public health whether the involvement of a councillor in such a gathering “undermined the message of this council” and meant he “should resign his position in the cabinet” - although Cllr Khan was not named directly.

Calls for Coventry councillor to resign after Covid rule-breaking video

Calls have been made for a cabinet member on Coventry City Council to resign after he was filmed flouting social distancing rules at a gathering which had to be broken up by police.

Opposition councillors say Cllr Khan's position is now "untenable".

Cllr Khan and Coventry Labour are yet to comment, however leader Cllr George Duggins said today: “I totally support the council’s statement of yesterday.”

Pressure has now mounted for Cllr Khan – who is cabinet member for communities and housing – to step down, with opposition councillors feeling the incident has “undermined the council”.

Conservative leader Cllr Gary Ridley said: “I am extremely angry about this situation.

“It smacks of arrogance and hypocrisy when you have got a senior councillor at a gathering and we are not talking about a minor breach, it is a serious breach. He is not just there but he is shaking hands and hugging and it has had to be broken up by the police.

“We will be calling for his resignation in a very special meeting if he does not resign quickly. He has undermined the council and his behaviour is hypocritical and clearly you cannot have somebody in his position doing that.”

Fellow Conservative Cllr Tim Mayer wrote on Twitter: “Very simple case. Coventry Labour need to find a replacement. Time for Khan to do the right thing and resign.”

Cllr Allan Andrews, deputy leader of the opposition, described it as “deeply concerning”.

He added on social media: “As a councillor who spent three months shielding, I took and continue to take Covid guidelines seriously, as do many Earlsdon ward residents. It reminds me of what my late mum might have said, ‘I’m not angry, but I am disappointed.’”

Coventry council cabinet member resigns from post after breaking Covid rules

A Coventry councillor who was filmed flouting social distancing rules at a large gathering has resigned from his cabinet role, it has been confirmed.

Cllr Tariq Khan has today (Thursday) stepped down from his role as cabinet member for communities and housing with immediate effect, although he will retain his role as a councillor for Foleshill.

A leaked internal email from council leader Cllr George Duggins said the work of the authority “must not be undermined”.

Cllr Duggins told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I would like to place on record the tremendous work Tariq has achieved over the last 18 months as Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing.

“He has worked hard and with officers has made some significant progress especially in the work around housing and homelessness during that time.

“I will not be making any further comment on this matter but will be announcing a replacement in the near future.”

The leaked email, written by council leader George Duggins, reads: "Tariq and I talked about his position on Cabinet after Group officers on Tuesday.

"Tariq wanted 24 hours to frame his resignation. I now wish to inform the Group that I regard Tariq as having resigned from Cabinet.

"The work this Group, Council and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, must not be undermined and I can’t and will not allow that to happen, or allow others to set the agenda. I wish to thank Tariq for all his work on Cabinet over the last 18 months."