Plymouth leader denies making death threats

He's alleged to have told councillor "You're dead"

The leader of Plymouth City Council has dismissed claims he made a ‘death threat’ during a full council meeting as “complete fabrication.”

Leader of the Independent Alliance group and councillor for Compton, Nick Kelly, alleged Tory leader Richard Bingley mouthed the words to him during a seven-hour long full council meeting on Monday [21 November]. 

It followed an exchange between Cllr Bingley (Southway) and former lord mayor Terri Beer in which Cllr Beer asked for an apology for remarks made about her in a leaked telephone call earlier this year.  

Cllr Beer, who represents Plympton Erle, was formally in the Tory group but is now part of the Independent Alliance.  She said to Cllr Bingley: “In March this year as the lord mayor, I went to an event in Plympton with 200 local businesses and was made aware of a telephone conversation that you had. 

“I found it particularly embarrassing. You’ve now apologised to all the other people involved in that telephone conversation. But you haven't apologised to me as the former lord mayor or to the citizens of Plymouth for bringing it into disrepute.”

Cllr Bingley did not apologise but asked: “Could you confirm the date that you listened to the phone call, please? Because it wasn't public until April 7.”

Cllr Beer said it was sometime in March. 

Later in the same meeting Cllr Kelly, who was Conservative leader until being ousted by Cllr Bingley, abruptly interrupted. “Sorry my lord mayor, I wish to raise a point of order,” he said. “Councillor Bingley has just mouthed to me: ‘you’re dead’.” 

Cllr Bingley can then be heard shouting: "I did not.”

Cllr Kelly continued: “Bearing in mind that's exactly what he said on the leaked tape. He’s shown no remorse or humility with regards to the [former] Lord mayor or an apology.” 

The council leader has vehemently denied making the threat and later released a statement saying: “It's sad to see the former leader implode and degrade himself so publicly. It's a complete fabrication. 

“Please do feel free to verify this with those sitting between myself and Cllr Kelly in close proximity.”  

Earlier Cllr Kelly called on Cllr Bingley to resign as council leader after having been found to be guilty of breaking the Councillor's Code of Conduct numerous times. 

Cllr Kelly has since written to Plymouth City Council's monitoring officer and head of legal services Emma Jackman, saying: “I am not prepared to be subject to such disgusting language, threats and conduct.

“As I requested during the meeting prior to this latest incident, Cllr Bingley should resign.”