A Liberal Democrat town council has introduced a system of “red cards” for members who feel anxious during meetings.
Members at Wymondham Town Council can now hold up a card to express that they feel distressed and want to leave the meeting.
They will instead go to another room where they will be offered water and advice on “grounding techniques”, such as breathing exercises.
The new measures are understood to have been introduced after Tony Holden, a long-standing councillor, quit his role with a 45-second resignation speech where he told the room they had “achieved nothing”.
A council has introduced a ‘red card’ system for members who become distressed during debates
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Green councillor Joe Barrett, 25, left the meeting for 20 minutes with a “psychiatric emergency” after Holden grilled the council.
He later admitted on Facebook that Holden did not intentionally mean to cause him harm, however, was adamant that new rules were needed.
Barrett proposed the new system to colleagues at the Norfolk Council.
He said: “[The cards] offer an option for councillors to remove themselves from meetings if they experience an emergency and need to take a break, but without having to speak or interrupt the meeting. Simply raise a card and go.
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“The basis of this is rooted in my understanding of anxiety, stress and PTSD, which is based on a mix of my own experience of these, along with a lot of research over the years.”
Red cards had initially been suggested but this was later rejected due to the colour’s connotations. Members will instead hold up name cards.
Last week, the new scheme was unanimously approved by all councillors.
Holden slammed the new measures, stating that democracy would suffer due to the policy.
He said: “The council isn’t fit for purpose. They’re fragile and have lost their way. This is so unnecessary.
The new scheme was unanimously approved by all councillors in Wymondham
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“I’m being used as a scapegoat. People can walk out of a meeting any time that they want to, but if you’re not in a meeting then you’re not representing your community – democracy has just gone out of the window.”
However, the scheme was supported by others such as David Roberts, who said: “I too have diagnosed severe traumatic PTSD as well as MS.
“Me personally this is not just about mental health but equality, what happens or is said to disabled councillors off camera by councillors can be worse.
“There is an inherent lack of equality knowledge and what is seen and heard from Westminster is just as prevalent at other levels of the political spectrum…”
Chairwoman Suzanne Nuri-Nixon also defended the new system. She said: “This is just a way of showing a bit of respect and will make us more inclusive.”
GB News has reached out to Wymondham Town Council for comment.
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