Kent councillor faces trial over inflammatory remarks

A Labour councillor in Dartford denies encouraging violent disorder after remarks at a counter-protest last year.

Kent councillor Ricky Jones said he spoke in heat of the moment

A video shows Ricky Jones, 58, addressing a counter-protest in Walthamstow on August 7 last year. He calls the demonstrators "disgusting Nazi fascists" and adds "we need to get rid of them all". The clip circulated online and led to his suspension by the Labour Party. Jones, who was a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs Association at the time, says the remarks were ill advised and not meant to incite violence. He told authorities the comments were made in the heat of the moment and were not planned.

Prosecutors say the speech was rabble rousing in a setting where violence could be anticipated and that Jones was aware of the national climate. The defence points to a late invitation to speak and to medical assessments noting neurodivergent traits that may influence impulsive remarks, while stressing that Jones has held senior public roles. The case raises questions about political accountability, the boundaries of protest rhetoric, and how parties respond when a local figure crosses the line. The outcome could shape how communities weigh free expression against the duty to prevent incitement and harm.

Highlights

The case will test how leaders balance accountability with a measured response to inflammatory rhetoric.