Exclusive interview with Councillor who sparked Leese controversy

Article published: Thursday, July 29th 2010

On July 14, Councillor Mary Di Mauro sparked controversy in a City Council meeting by challenging Council Leader Richard Leese over comments he made after being arrested and cautioned for assaulting his teenage step-daughter. The incident enraged Labour councillors who demanded that Cllr Di Mauro apologise to “every victim of domestic abuse in the city” for exploiting the cause for political purposes. MULE spoke to Cllr Di Mauro exclusively to hear her side of the story…

Why did you feel that it was necessary to bring the issue up in the Council meeting?

The Leader of the Council had given the following quote to the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday 12 May 2010: “Asked whether the incident would make it difficult to him leading anti-crime and anti-domestic violence initiatives, Sir Richard said: “I don’t think I’ve ever used the expression ‘zero tolerance’.” This is totally incompatible with Council Policy, which has supported a zero tolerance strategy for 18 years since the policy was launched.

Did you receive support from colleagues, party members, family and friends etc?

I have been supported throughout by my Lib Dem colleagues, local party members, family and friends. People have stopped me in the street to tell me their own story and have thanked me for asking the question that everyone thought should be asked.

Should Richard Leese have permanently resigned as Council Leader?

He is in a position of responsibility as regards implementing and upholding anti-domestic abuse initiatives. His statement to the MEN is incompatible with this role and the Council’s own Domestic Abuse Strategy. He should have withdrawn this statement and taken the decision himself to step down as Leader of the Council.

What were your feelings towards the reaction by Labour councillors?

The Labour Group supported my Motion, so their reaction during the debate and afterwards is odd. A member of the public told me that they thought that I had just been abused and bullied in the Council Chamber and that the Labour Group had tried to intimidate me to make me stop speaking.

How did you respond to accusations (from fellow Councillors and many comments on the MEN website) that you made the comment simply to score political points?

So many people have contacted me to say “at last someone has asked the question”. The Council’s policy on domestic abuse had been left open to interpretation and I felt compelled to deal with it. I didn’t mention the Lib Dems once in my speech.

What are your feelings are on the zero tolerance approach to domestic violence?

People have been stopping me in the street to tell me their stories. One woman told me how, when she was a young woman, she had been physically abused by her husband when she was pregnant. The advice she was given by medical staff was to “Go home and make him something nice for his tea.” Zero tolerance should mean zero.

What could the Council do to reduce the incidence of domestic violence in Manchester?

Domestic abuse is known to increase during major sporting events. As I mentioned in my speech, the Council worked with many agencies during the World Cup in a coordinated campaign called “Blow the Whistle on Domestic Abuse”. I applaud this initiative and would wish this approach to continue. Some Councils have practitioners who visit “at risk” households on the day of a “big match”. I support this proactive approach in addition to a reactive approach as a means of anticipating and hopefully preventing abuse from taking place.

To get help in matters of domestic or sexual abuse or violence, see the End The Fear website which lists help lines and other contact details for support: http://www.endthefear.co.uk/

Mary Di Mauro is the elected Councillor for Northenden ward

 

 

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Comments

1. I think it is the Labour Councillors who should be apologising for their bullying of Councillor Mary Di Mauro. They should also be ashamed of themselves for keeping Leese as their Leader. They should of sacked him, ‘zero-tolerance’ should be the name of the game.
   Some of us have seen the bullying antics of the Labour group and it is the only way they can get things done. They cannot put a valid argument for most of their ill-thought out proposals.

   Comment by Patrick Sudlow on July 30, 2010 at 7:23 pm

2. i am heartily sick of the lack of action to prevent so called ‘domestic’ violence/abuse/rape. 2 women die each week as a result of this dreadful crime. Yet when those polls are done to see which crimes worry us most – guess what, there is no tick box for domestic abuse or forced marriage. the police appear to be utterly incompetent or not to care at all about this most heinous crime. And at the world cup – (when GBH against women goes up 30%) not even a poster to be seen around manchester. i once asked for a flyer campaign in my neighbourhood (because I knew at least one neighbour who was a horrible bully to his family. NO RESPONSE!!!! WHY?
   Educational flyers and stickers in girls and women’s toilets can really help. COUNCILS AND POLICE NEED TO PUT MONEY AND TRAINING INTO THIS ISSUE – MORE WOMEN DIE THAN IN THE AFGHAN WAR!!!!!!

   Comment by suzi on August 2, 2010 at 11:42 am

3. […] Original article online at the Manchester Mule here […]

   Pingback by Manchester Mule Article : Exclusive interview with Councillor who sparked Leese controversy « Joe Beech on October 20, 2010 at 7:27 pm

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