Warwickshire councillors removed from children's committee over SEND comments

The council has confirmed to CYP Now that three councillors will be removed from the children and young people overview and scrutiny committee following the remarks they made at the end of January.

“Whilst a formal investigation is underway, it can be confirmed the councillors concerned have been removed from the overview and scrutiny committee. Replacements will be appointed in due course,” said the council in a statement.

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Councillors Brian Hammersley, Jeff Morgan and Clare Golby came under fire for the comments they made, which include Hammersley saying “something in the water” was causing an increase in the number of children receiving SEND support.

Morgan also questioned whether children receiving SEND funding were “just really badly behaved” and are in “need of some form of strict correction”, with Golby asking if “a rise in social media use” was causing an increase in SEND cases.

Warwickshire Council leader Isobel Seccombe told BBC Politics Midlands that all three will be removed from the panel but she will not be removing the whip. 

The three no longer appear as listed councillors on the council’s website.

@Warwickshire_CC this is absolutely disgusting! Talking about SEN children in this way, is this what your council thinks of SEN children ? #SEND pic.twitter.com/DXylrMWrr5

— Kerry Wilks (@middlesbro82) February 5, 2024

CYP Now previously reported on backlash to the comments. Kerry Wilks from union Unite was among those who responded, branding the comments “absolutely disgusting” on X while others called for the councillors to be removed from the panel.