Downham Market's deputy mayor Doug Lawson accused of referring to LGBT community to be as relevant as 'morris dancers, Wee Frees and goths'

Three complaints have been made about a deputy mayor’s comments on Facebook and via email, which have been described as “offensive, demeaning and bullying”.

A West Norfolk Council standards committee heard that tension has risen again at Downham Town Council after deputy mayor Doug Lawson was accused of making the offensive comments on social media.

The complaints were made by three former councillors, the first of which occurred in March 2020, where Cllr Lawson refers to the LGBT community in an email to other councillors as an “optional lifestyle preferences grouping”.

He went on to compare the LGBT community’s relevance to that of “morris dancers, Wee Frees, goths, necrophiliacs, beastialists, Ipswich Town supporters, WI jam makers and ramblers”.

Cllr Lawson did not attend his own hearing, but said in his defence that the complaints made were all “politically motivated”.

He has disputed all allegations made against him and said: “My rights of freedom of speech as a member of the public permit me to say almost whatever I like.”

The committee was told that Cllr Lawson felt like he was “at war” with other councillors.

In August 2020, Cllr Lawson put in an email that some of his colleagues were “self-serving councillors who are on the make or take, bombastic ego trippers and little dictators with delusions of power and I wish to distance myself from such disagreeable types”.

After finding out that a fellow councillor had taken time off due to stress, he published a Facebook post saying: “Poor little wee lamb, she’s off sick,” and referred to the absence as self inflicted.

In various Facebook posts, he refers to councillors as “dipsticks”, “the Mamba”, “the beige nodding dog” and “Tweedle Doo-Doo and Tweedle Dumber.”

He also likened the Town Council to “a KKK kangaroo court.”

Another complaint was made from a councillor following a comment made publicly on Facebook to their son, which said: “I realise that biologically you are a young male member of some community somewhere, but not from Downham and with no specific links to Downham apart from through some familial link through some feeble-minded relative.

“Have you ever had a job? Are you old enough to be on Facebook? Do you understand what social responsibility means? Do you understand what common decency means?”

Cllr Lawson contested findings made and claimed that there were “legal failures”.

A report was carried out by West Norfolk Council to investigate further into the number of reports made.

His behaviour was described as “woeful” by the standards hearing panel, who recommended that Cllr Lawson should be removed from all committees and sub-committees.

They also recommended that Cllr Lawson should be removed from his role as deputy mayor and undergoes ethics and standards training.

When approached by the Lynn News, Cllr Lawson said it would be inappropriate to comment until an ombudsman has provided his judgement.

It follows last year’s drama within the town council, which saw the police called and other reports of bullying.

An extraordinary meeting will be held into the matter on Tuesday, November 29 at 7pm at Downham Town Hall.