ACTIONS OF BASILDON COUNCIL IN RESPECT OF RICHARD HOWITT MEP

That this House notes with concern the forcible removal of East of England MEP, Richard Howitt, from the official media area of Dale Farm by officials of Basildon Council during the eviction of Travellers; further notes that this followed Mr Howitt commenting critically on some of the actions of Basildon Council; believes this was an attempt to prevent Mr Howitt from making public comments on Basildon Council's actions and thus constraining his freedom of speech; calls on Basildon Council to apologise formally to Mr Howitt for acting in this way and apparently seeking to prevent free speech by an elected representative; and further calls on Basildon Council to ensure that elected representatives are not in future prevented from expressing to the news media legitimately-held opinions on local, national and international affairs in areas for which they are responsible.