A TOWN council has denied claims that a teenage politics student “was likened” to the killer of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Lydney Town Council released a statement last Thursday (February 21) following a closed extraordinary meeting the previous night that discussed allegations made by Forest Labour Party youth organiser Zac Arnold.

It said: “Lydney Town Council would like to address the claims in the press and social media by an individual that he was likened to the murderer of the late Jo Cox MP.

“At no time has any individual been described in this way by Lydney Town Council.”

Documents released by the council also show that an official complaint was made about the 18-year-old’s alleged “intimidatory manner” to the regional and national Labour Party, which replied that he had attended council meetings and posted comments online in a private capacity and they would not be taking any action.

Mr Arnold has been highly critical of town council policies, particularly over youth provision, and was arrested for a breach of the peace outside the council offices in January, after trying to ask questions in the chamber, before refusing to move on, although no further action was taken.

The email sent to police by town clerk Jayne Smailes and released by the council highlighted the fact that Mr Arnold, his father Louis and Cllr Roger Holmes (Lab, Lydney North) had ‘remained outside’ the council building following a council trustees meeting in November.

And “given recent Facebook posts in which the council have been heavily criticised of late and mindful of the Jo Cox case” their behaviour should be noted “on file”, she said.

Furthermore, Mrs Smailes, whose official title is chief executive officer, told last month’s full council meeting – at which Zac Arnold condemned the “appalling comparison” – “With someone like Jo Cox, you know, the anaolgy is there.”

In her email to police, she claimed that had the mayor Cllr Bob Berryman and deputy mayor Cllr Brian Pearman “not remained in the car park talking” she and a woman member of staff “would have had to walk past the three of them.”

Zac Arnold, who says he is taking legal advice over the email, says the trio were having a private conversation in a public space.

But in its statement, the council said the email “was merely addressing concerns regarding potential risks to female members of staff when leaving late evening winter meetings. This genuine concern for staff has been grossly distorted and misrepresented.”

In a broadside at council critics, Mrs Smailes said after Wednesday’s meeting: “To those with nothing better to do than complain about how Lydney Town Council operates… I would like to say that it is a pity that you don’t spend half as much time fighting to improve Lydney and its surrounding area.”

She added: “I am pleased that Lydney Town Council members voted in favour of releasing information ordinarily classed as confidential. I believe the information speaks for itself… I would like to thank those who know me and never doubted for one minute my honesty and integrity,”

And she urged people to go to the council’s website at www.lydneytowncouncil.co.uk to read the council statement and documents relating to the extraordinary meeting.

The documents include a letter from mayor Cllr Bob Berryman to the Labour Party claiming that Zac Arnold had launched a ’tirade’ from the public gallery and his actions had “overstepped the mark of acceptability.”

In reply, Forest Labour Party chair, Bernie O’Neill said: “Having taken advice from the National Labour Party, I have to inform you that no action will be taken… as your complaint is concerning a resident of Lydney in his private capacity.”

He said the November email caried “insinuations” and the comment about “the tragic murder of Jo Cox is partucularly galling and beyond belief.”

Mr Arnold said he has never attended a meeting of Lydney Town Council as a member of the Labour Party or any other organisation.

He said: “My motivation prior to and during this farcical series of events has always, and will always be a determination to fight for the community in Lydney and the surrounding areas.

“This is not about me, this is not about politics – it is about the people of Lydney. This is about the community.”