Teignbridge councillors slam genocide accusation

The council "had done all it can and should have done"

Teignbridge councillors have defended their response to the coronavirus pandemic after hearing from a group of covid sceptics at a meeting, one of which accused the authority of “genocide”.

Several people appeared at the authority’s full council meeting, held at Newton Abbot Racecourse on Monday, questioning elements of the district’s response, including lockdowns.

Many were told the council had simply been following the advice of the government and public health experts, with leader Councillor Alan Connett claiming it had “done all it can and should have done”.

Cllr Connett reacted angrily to one woman, who accused the authority of committing “genocide” on young people by allowing 12 to 15-year-olds in the district to be immunised, despite tests showing vaccination of this age group to be safe and the UK’s four chief medical officers recommending such action.

“Chairman, I’m going to ask the speaker to withdraw that disgusting remark,” Cllr Connett said. “No one in this chamber is responsible for genocide. That was an outrageous insult to everyone,”

Another member of the public claimed Teignbridge had such low infections of covid last year that “we do not think it was appropriate to lock down the whole area on such low figures.”

Cllr Connett responded: “I believe the council has done all it could and should have done to protect the people of Teignbridge, to support our communities, our residents, our businesses.

“I make no apology for the work the council has done. I thank the staff and I thank all councillors for their support through the pandemic. It was the right thing to do, and I’m not ashamed by it.”

The public speaker also disputed the severity of the virus, even though official government figures show that 135,000 people in the UK have died within 28 days of testing positive, including more than 130 people in Teignbridge.

Another criticised Devon’s public campaign to get people vaccinated, claiming it had not been tested. Councillor Alison Eden called the woman’s comments “dangerous,” adding: “All my medical friends and all the specialists and scientists that I know couldn’t wait to vaccinate themselves and now their children, and I think we should put an end to this conversation.”

The public speaker proceeded to talk over the chairman of the meeting and protest against the vaccine, leading her microphone being switched off.