I WAS deeply saddened by the behaviour I witnessed at Tuesday evening’s full council meeting.

In case readers are unaware, almost all of us attending these meetings have for the past year done so from chairs in our own homes, sitting alone in front of a screen because of the pandemic.

It’s better than nothing and it is vital that democracy continues but a small mosaic of faces on a computer screen is no substitute for being in the company of others, as most of us know given the challenges of the past year. Isolation is difficult and yet we politicians, of all parties, have been trying to do our best to lead, to inspire, to work together, and to keep the council moving forwards to the benefit of our communities.

In that context, watching councillors at Tuesday’s meeting make unsubstantiated attacks on the council leader, accusing him of bullying, was deeply ironic. If queueing up to make sanctimonious attacks on a person’s integrity for public spectacle, while that individual sits alone in their home, isn’t bullying I don’t know what is. I hope I never have to witness such hypocritical conduct again.

Cllr Christian Vassie

Liberal Democrats

Blake Court,

Wheldrake, York