Moray Council equalities champion Juli Harris resigns after making Anglophobic comment on social media
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MORAY Council’s equalities champion has stepped down after sending an offensive message on social media.
Councillor Juli Harris (SNP, Speyside Glenlivet) replied to a photo on X, previously known as Twitter, showing a half empty room at the party’s conference in October.
It was accompanied by a comment saying the SNP was dead.
Believing the post came from an English football team supporters group, Ms Harris replied “Rubbish, English wifey”.
As a result, Labour group leader Sandy Keith made a complaint, concerned the comment was Anglophobic.
And following discussions with SNP co-leaders Graham Leadbitter and Shona Morrison as well as Ms Harris, the decision was taken for her to stand down.
Both posts have been removed from the social media site.
Cllr Harris said: “I’ve made an error of judgement.
“It was never my intention to cause distress to any member of the public, or any colleague at Moray Council.
“I have been made aware that what I said offended some people, and for that I am truly sorry and apologise.
“I am standing down as equalities champion as a result of my actions.
“It has been a salutary lesson.”
Since standing down Ms Harris has received diversity training.
She said: “I’m really sorry to be standing down as equalities champion. I feel I was raising the profile of the role.
“But I have to be accountable for my actions.”
Cllr Keith is pleased she has taken the decision to step aside.
He said: “This is not something we want to see.
“Two of my group members are English by birth and there are a lot of English people in our communities.
“Anglophobia is not acceptable, in the same way homophobia is not acceptable.”
A spokesperson for the local authority confirmed Ms Harris had stood down as equalities champion.
A new appointment is expected to be made at a meeting of the next full council.
