Peterborough City Council leader steps down over 'white trash' message on grooming gang victims
He's also been suspended by the Labour party.
A Labour council leader who appeared to call Rotherham grooming gang victims "white trash" has apologised for his language and stepped down from the role.
Dennis Jones resigned as the leader of Peterborough City Council over the comment, which was sent to a young councillor on WhatsApp.
Mr Jones has also been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation, it is understood - but he remains as a councillor and will serve as an independent.
Independent councillor Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, 19, said that she received the message last month after writing to him: "I care about safety and why should immigration put women's safety at risk?."
On her X account, she shared a screenshot of a message labelled from Mr Jones, which read: "Oh so white British cops f** poor white trash in Rotherham is OK, is it? Get a f** grip Daisy.
"You are aiming for populist votes and attention.
"Forgive me but you are bright enough to know what you are doing and, politically, I wish you no luck at all. But you know what you are setting out to do."
Ms Blakemore-Creedon wrote in her X post: "The phrase 'white trash' is demeaning and classist. It dismisses victims of grooming gangs as if their suffering is less serious or less worthy of respect because of their background.
"That is completely unacceptable, especially from someone in public life."
Ms Blakemore-Creedon, who said she quit the Labour Party over backlash to calling for CCTV to be installed into minicabs, told the PA news agency: "I'm slightly disappointed that we haven't seen a full resignation and that he will be sitting as an independent.
"But for now that is a good outcome for all victims of grooming."
Mr Jones said in a statement that his resignation was in the "best interests of Peterborough City Council".
He went on: "With regard to the topic discussed, let me be absolutely clear: vile perpetrators of sexual abuse must face the full force of the law, and we must all continue to fight for victims of such abhorrent crimes to get the justice they deserve.
"In trying to assert this view, I used language which some who wrongly dismiss or choose to ignore such evil crimes commonly use to minimise such criminality.
"In doing so, I was intending to discredit this completely wrong characterisation and highlight the need to stand up for victims of such crimes.
"I apologise wholeheartedly for some of the language used in these messages, which was clearly inappropriate, and for any offence I may have caused as a result."
A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party expects the highest standards from our members and our elected representatives.
"The language used here was inappropriate and swift action has been taken, in line with our rules and procedures."