Jeremy Newmark, the Labour leader of Hertsmere Council, has been cleared by a standards panel of allegations that he used racist language toward Nigerians. The complaint was brought by former mayor Alpha Bird Collins, though the council cited a lack of evidence and a delayed filing.
The "crooks" allegation and the five-month delay
According to the Daily Mail, former mayor Alpha Bird Collins filed a formal complaint alleging that Jeremy Newmark described Nigerians as "crooks" who "cannot be trusted." The remarks were allegedly made when Mr . Collins discussed attending an international business conference in Liverpool organized by Nigerian entrepreneurs. Mr. Collins, a former Labour councillor now associated with the Hertsmere First group, described the alleged discrimination as "heart-wrenching."
The Hertsmere Council standards panel dismissed the claim in June, noting that Mr. Collins submitted the complaint five months after the incident occurred without providing an explanation for the delay. The council further stated that the ex-mayor failed to produce witnesses or evidence to support the claim. additionally, the report says the only council officer present during the meeting between Jeremy Newmark and Alpha Bird Collins had no memory of the remarks being made.
From "nonces" to "crimnals": Newmark's history of inflammatory language
The controversy surrounding Jeremy Newmark extends beyond the dismissed racism complaint, reflecting a broader pattern of aggressive rhetoric. In September of last year, the Hertsmere Council leader branded campaigners with Operation Raise The Colours—a group advocating for the display of St George's and Union flags—as "nonces" and "criminals." He further characterized the movement as an orchestrated attempt by extremists to hijack the national flag.
While Jeremy Newmark later apologized for these specific comments, the incident triggered calls for his resignation from the local Conservative group. this trajectory of public disputes suggests a volatile relationship between the Labour leader and various community and political factions in Hertfordshire, moving the conversation from specific policy disagreements to personal attacks.
Reform UK's no-confidence vote and the lost majority
The political standing of Jeremy Newmark has deteriorated following a by-election loss that stripped the Labour-Liberal Democrat administration of its majority. as a result, councillors from Reform UK have tabled a vote of no confidence against Mr. Newmark and the current council leadership, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
This shift in power dynamics transforms the legal clearances of the standards panel into a secondary concern compared to the immediate threat of political removal. The loss of the majority means that Jeremy Newmark no longer possesses the legislative shield that typically protects party leaders from internal challenges.
The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" clash with Abhishek Sachdev
Further complicating his tenure is a dispute involving Abhishek Sachdev, a Tory finance spokesman. Jeremy Newmark claimed that Mr . Sachdev used an "antisemitic trope" during a budget speech by suggesting the Labour leader "orchestrates everything in this chamber." Mr. Newmark explicitly linked this phrasing to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a notorious antisemitic forgery.
Despite the severity of the accusation, Jeremy Newmark later clarified that he did not believe Abhishek Sachdev acted with "harmful intent" or was an antisemite . However, the exchange left a lasting impression on the council, with Tory leader Morris Bright labeling Jeremy Newmark a "disgrace." This incident leaves open the question of whether the standards panel's processes are viewed as impartial by all parties, especially given Alpha Bird Collins' stated dissatisfaction with how his own complaint was handled.
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