Revealed: The reason why Oldham councillor was called a ‘Nazi’ in debate chaos that riot police were called to

The reason why a councillor was branded a ‘Nazi’ in a chaotic debate that riot police were called to has been revealed.

Councillor Marc Hince, an Independent, shouted at Conservative councillor Lewis Quigg after he called Hince a ‘Nazi’ during an Oldham Council meeting on Wednesday.

Later in the meeting, Quigg and fellow Conservative councillor Graham Sheldon reportedly squared up to each other and police officers arrived outside in a riot van.

Councillor Marc Hince previously apologised for wearing a Nazi uniform with three Swastikas and an Iron Cross on it for a WW2-themed party celebrating the film Yanks starring Richard Gere and Lisa Eichhorn.

Speaking to MailOnline today, Cllr Hince said that ‘to the best of my knowledge’ it was the only time he had worn a Nazi uniform or memorabilia. 

Although he also said the Nazi phrase ‘Sieg Heil’ (‘Hail Victory’) during a parish council meeting in May this year, Cllr Hince said this was in response to another councillor who he claimed was making Nazi salutes in his direction.

He told MailOnline: ‘I am not a Nazi and therefore do not subscribe in any associated beliefs [or] doctrines.

‘It is clear all this is just an attempt at misrepresentation by politically motivated mischief makers.’

This is the image of Councillor Marc Hince in a Nazi uniform that sparked mayhem at a council meeting in Oldham this week

Hince (third from right in pale yellow shirt) said ‘Sieg Heil’ during this parish council meeting in May. He claimed he used the phrase when asking the councillor in purple (far left) if he was making Nazi salutes

A riot van arrived outside the meeting in Oldham on Wednesday after the ‘explosive’ row

Addressing his ‘Sieg Heil’ comment, he said: ‘I am actually challenging a fellow councillor, Louie Hamblett, who appears to making Nazi salutes in my direction when voting. 

‘[It is] part of the ongoing smear campaign against me. 

‘You can clearly hear me say ”Sieg Heil, is that what you mean Louie” as I challenged him. 

All this stemmed from after the local elections in May when the council fell into [No Overall Control] and we would not support a Lib Dem/Conservative coalition.’

He added: ‘When I said ”Sieg Heil”, I wasn’t making a statement, I was asking a question to a fellow councillor.’ 

Speaking about the time he wore a Nazi uniform, he said: ‘This was over 12 years ago. 

‘The party I attended was in fact a well publicised WW2 event called Yanks Weekend in Saddleworth where unsurprisingly there were countless others dressed in both Allied and Axis uniforms. 

‘Unfortunately WW2 German decorations and uniforms carry the swastika.

A council meeting descended into chaos after one councillor called another ‘a Nazi’. Pictured: Cllr Marc Hince

Councillors were debating the town’s participation in Greater Manchester’s controversial joint housing and business development plan. Pictured: Cllr Lewis Quigg

‘This was many years before I stood for public office and in no way reflects my personal or political views. 

‘The uniform was lent to me by a friend who attended many WW2 events.’

The heated row broke out during a debate about a ‘controversial’ Places for Everyone housing scheme. 

After insults of ‘dictator’ and ‘Nazi sympathiser’ were hurled, the meeting was aborted and a riot van turned up outside the council building in Greater Manchester. 

Footage showed Oldham Mayor Zahid Chauhan calling for calm before the councillors start shouting at each other in chaotic scenes.

Shouts of ‘take that back’ and ‘we all heard what he said’ can be heard in the chamber before the meeting was paused for nearly two hours.

In a public statement after the meeting, Hince added: ‘I believe politics is the problem not the solution and tonight’s meeting went a long way to proving that.

‘I understand as an elected councillor, not everyone will agree with the decisions I make. However, I make these decisions with [integrity] and respect those who disagree. I have always tried to engage where possible with people with opposing viewpoints.

‘I could never have envisaged or prepared for the level of personal abuse I have received, particularly online and the attempts to smear me as an individual. 

‘In particular characterising me as a Nazi on the basis I attended a well-known local WW2 event dressed as a German soldier over 12 years ago.

‘This abuse has affected not just my professional career, but also my personal life, with both myself and my wife being abused in public and online. 

‘This has also had a significant impact on my health, due to the stress this has caused me and my family.

As a public figure, I expect some level of abuse from those unwilling to engage and resort to name calling. 

‘However, I do not expect the same level of abuse from fellow councillors.

‘During [Wednesday’s] council meeting a Conservative member called me a Nazi on two occasions, without any reason or provocation. 

‘[It is] something I find deeply offensive and absolutely uncalled for. Naturally, I challenged the individual vociferously. 

‘However, I reflected on my actions and apologised unreservedly to all elected members and the chamber as a whole.

‘Unfortunately, both this councillor and another Conservative Councillor who had been verbally abusive to a council officer refused a request from both the Mayor and their Conservative Group Leader to apologise, leading to the meeting being adjourned.

‘More alarming[ly], during the adjournment one of the Councillors in question seemed to verbally [threaten and abuse the Conservative Group Leader.

‘Despite several attempts to pacify both councillors after the recess, they continued with their disruptive behaviour. 

On Wednesday, councillors complained that Housing Secretary Angela Rayner (pictured) had not yet been informed of Oldham’s ‘revocation’ of the scheme

‘With one of the Councillors after announcing his resignation from the Conservative Party, taking it then upon himself to sack on the spot his former Group Leader without any process and announcing he had withdrawn the Conservative Group Leaders Party membership. 

‘Ironically these are the actions of someone who refers to me as a Nazi!

‘Because of the appalling actions of these two Councillors the council meeting was effectively abandoned, meaning important issues such as the protection of our green belt could not be resolved. 

‘I hope both Councillors reflect on their behaviour and actions and act accordingly.

‘I would like to thank the Mayor, and Group Leaders Cllr Shah, Cllr Sykes, Cllr Sheldon, Cllr Gafoor and Cllr Hobin for their support and condemnation of abuse laid against me.’

Shelley Kipling, Acting Chief Executive of Oldham Council, said: ‘Unfortunately, police had to be called to the council chamber.

‘The meeting was adjourned. We will be in touch with group leaders over the coming days to reschedule the meeting.’

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Officers responded to reports of a disturbance from a member of the public at Oldham Civic Centre on West Street at around 5.30pm [on December 18].

‘Police are currently investigating reports of racially aggravated public order and enquiries into this remain ongoing.’

Oldham is expected to build 11,560 homes by 2039 after agreeing – alongside the majority of councils in the Greater Manchester combined authority – to allocate land for 115,000 new homes.

However, after Labour lost its ruling majority in the local elections, opposition members voted in favour of the the authority asking to leave the deal.

On Wednesday, councillors complained that Housing Secretary Angela Rayner had not yet been informed of Oldham’s ‘revocation’ of the scheme. 

Earlier this year, Labour was accused of ‘totally misleading’ the public after it emerged that unspoilt green belt land could be flattened to meet its ambitious house building targets.

The government announced in July – almost immediately after coming to power – that it plans to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years.

Ministers admitted some land in the official green belt land would have to be built on, but said this would only be so-called ‘grey belt’ areas.

This is plots that were previously built on with uses such as petrol stations and car parks.

However an analysis of the proposed national planning policy framework (NPPF) shows that councils will have to free up other land if they do not have enough unused brownfield and ‘grey belt’ sites.