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Daily rejects apology demand from councillors it outed in tax scandal

A regional daily has rejected two councillors’ demands for an apology – after it outed them for failing to pay their council tax.

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner named Kirklees councillors Amanda Pinnock and Jean Calvert among six who had been issued with court summons for failure to pay – but instead of apologising to the public, the pair have insisted the newspaper should say sorry to them.

The Examiner says it has no need to apologise, after Cllr Pinnock made what it called “ugly allegations” of racism against the newspaper.

Cllr Pinnock, who had initially denied being involved in the ‘Ratesgate’ affair, claimed the newspaper appeared to “character assassinate black people without the facts and not on good authority.”

Cllr Pinnock, pictured left, and Cllr Calvert

Cllr Pinnock, pictured left, and Cllr Calvert

She added: “The arrears reported on in the Examiner are historic and were cleared up quickly without any court case or court appearance. It is untrue that I lied to the Examiner and somehow this needs to be fixed.

“I hear all too often from people within the black community that their local newspaper smear names and embellishes the truth. That the Examiner appears to highlight stereotypes and negative images of the community.

“The Examiner will sensationalise black issues and seldom promotes positive ones throughout the year. These are the words of people within the black community.

“The response I received from my social media post was phenomenal both publicly and privately about people’s views on the Examiner. As a representative of all communities I am raising this as a concern.”

Andrew Hirst, the Examiner’s head of content, told HTFP: “We published a statement by Cllr Amanda Pinnock in which she made some ugly allegations about the Examiner and published it in full as she demanded. That was her right of reply after we revealed she has been summonsed for non payment of council tax.

“But everything she claims is without foundation. She accuses us of racism and talks of how we have let the black community down and sensationalised stories… all without providing one single example. And the reason for that is that everything she alleges is nonsense.

“As a newspaper we are incredibly proud of our black community and have shown that time and time again in our coverage over the years.”

“What Cllr Pinnock claims is way out of step for someone in a civic role, someone who should be an advocate for community relations rather than speaking in terms that are both derogatory and untrue.

“We take a pride in all our communities but it’s our role to report on both the positive and, at times, negative things which happen within any of them.

“That’s the role of local media and something the Examiner has done ever since it was founded and will continue to do without fear or favour. We have no need at all to apologise to Cllr Pinnock who has now been suspended by her party pending an inquiry.”

5 comments

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  • June 24, 2016 at 10:06 am
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    Typical of the shameless clowns taking over town halls up and down the country.

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  • June 24, 2016 at 11:06 am
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    Ah, the old classic…

    I don’t like what you say, even though it’s true, therefore you’re a racist, sexist, bigot, misoginist.

    She should be asked if she has any proof of her allegations.

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  • June 24, 2016 at 11:54 am
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    If you don’t have a leg to stand on, play the race card.
    Hats off to Examiner for exposing them and robust response.

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