A councillor has sparked a furious reaction after uttering the words ‘Sieg heil’ during a meeting.
But Marc Hince claims he is the victim of a ‘hate campaign’ following calls for his resignation.
The Independent caused a stir when he came out with the phrase associated with the Nazis and leader Adolf Hitler at Shaw and Crompton Parish Council in Oldham, Greater Manchester, on May 21.
As a vote was taken on whether the public should not be allowed to hear an item as it was seen to contain commercially sensitive information, Cllr Hince can clearly be heard saying, ‘Sieg heil.’
‘Excuse me, can we keep the language to the point?’ said chair Cllr Lee Navesey, to which Cllr Hince added towards Cllr Louie Hamblett: ‘Is that what you’re saying there, Louie?’
Cllr Hamblett replied: ‘Your words, sir. Not mine.’
Cllr Hince was recently at the centre of a row over historic photographs showing him in a uniform bearing Nazi symbols, which he admitted was a ‘bad choice’.
And hearing the words ‘Sieg heil’ sparked an angry reaction from Cllr Tom Penketh, who said: ‘What I witnessed in the meeting that night was disgusting and an insult to the people of our town and country as a whole.
‘An elected councillor has used a Nazi phrase, which praises Hitler, and tried to laugh it off.
‘We have a strong community of veterans in Shaw and Crompton. I wonder how they feel after Cllr Hince’s abhorrent behaviour? There is no place for fascist beliefs in our country let alone our town.
‘Cllr Hince should publicly apologise and resign immediately.’
After being approached for his response, Cllr Hince – who did not deny saying ‘Sieg heil’ – took aim at political opponents unhappy at his decision as an Oldham Borough councilor for Shaw to side with the ruling Labour group, keeping leader Arooj Shah in position.
He said: ‘This is just part of a hate campaign against me facilitated by the Lib Dems.
‘If you watch the video of the meeting, you will actually see I am calling out Cllr Louie Hamblett for making what appears to be Nazi salutes in my direction when voting!
‘Frankly, this whole campaign against me, which has included some of the most vile abuse, including death threats, must stop.’
Cllr Hince told the Oldham Times, he made the comments in response to hand gestures made by Lib Dem councillor Louie Hamblett.
The independent councillor accused his Lib Dem rival of ‘making what appears to be Nazi salutes’ when voting.
However, Cllr Hamblett said he raised his hand to vote and was not making a Nazi salute.
Cllr Tom Penketh, another Lib Dem said: ‘What I witnessed in the meeting that night was disgusting and an insult to the people of our town and country as a whole.
‘An elected councillor has used a Nazi phrase, which praises Hitler, and tried to laugh it off.’
He said Cllr Hince should apologise and resign.
Cllr Hince had previously apologised after an image of him wearing a military uniform with Nazi insignia had appeared online.