UK Town Council Meeting Erupts in Chaos, Police Called Amid Filming Dispute

A town council meeting in Barnoldswick, England, descended into chaos when a councillor began filming the chairwoman, prompting her to call the police. The disruption, which occurred last Thursday, drew comparisons to a viral parish council meeting from 2021.

Council chair Leanne Barrett asked councillor David Whipp to stop filming her, but he refused, asserting a legal right to record public meetings. After 13 minutes of dispute, Cllr Barrett adjourned the session, stating she was contacting the police to have Cllr Whipp removed. The decision was met with applause from the public gallery.

When police arrived approximately 40 minutes later, a brass band began playing loudly in another room, causing members of the public to erupt in laughter. The officers spoke with Cllr Whipp outside the meeting, but he stated he wished to continue monitoring and recording the proceedings. A spokesperson for Lancashire Police indicated that any ejection or removal was a matter for the council.

The incident echoes the infamous Handforth Parish Council Zoom meeting in December 2020, where then-chairman Brian Tolver clashed with stand-in clerk Jackie Weaver. That meeting gained notoriety for the councillors' behavior and Mrs. Weaver's firm handling of the situation, which led to her becoming a viral sensation.