Council chief 'made Nazi salute'

An investigation has been launched in Britain following a complaint that a deputy council leader made a Nazi-style salute and said “Sieg Heil” to a German-born councillor during a meeting.

Simon Cooke, then deputy chairman of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, allegedly made the gesture to Labour’s Lynne Joyce following her speech on community safety last month.

A spokeswoman for the Standards Board for England, an independent body which oversees a code of conduct for local authorities, said today: “I can confirm the board is investigating Councillor Simon Cooke of Bradford following an allegation made by a member of the same authority.

“We’re looking into three aspects – a failure to treat others with respect, discrimination and with bringing the office or authority into disrepute.”

The investigation is expected to take six months and the adjudication panel has the power to disqualify a member for up to five years if the evidence supports an allegation.

A Bradford Council spokeswoman said Conservative Mr Cooke had since resigned as deputy leader.