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Council weighs into Falkland Islands row

William MorganLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imagePA Media Image shows a number of houses and farm buildings on the Falkland Islands.PA Media
Burnley Council is to debate whether the Falkland Islands has a right to self-determination

A motion defending the Falkland Islands' right to self-determination that is set to go before Burnley Council has been slammed by Reform UK, which has accused the authority's leader of "grandstanding".

The issue of motions on topics that do not directly impact the town's residents have increasingly become a flashpoint between the different groups, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Reform's councillor Gavin Theaker said the council "exists to serve the borough of Burnley, not involve itself in international disputes".

But Burnley leader Afrasiab Anwar said: "Reform themselves have put forward motions on matters of national policy".

With a further eight motions up for discussion at an upcoming full council meeting, Reform have weighed in again, after Anwar proposed a motion defending the Falkland Islands' right to self-determination, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The group said in a statement: "While other parties may want to spend valuable council time and money debating international issues over which Burnley Borough Council has no authority, influence or ability to make meaningful decisions, Reform UK Burnley believes our residents should come first."

The statement continues: "Borough Council meetings should not become a platform for political grandstanding on matters outside the council's remit.

"We were elected to represent Burnley, not to run foreign policy. That should remain our priority."

News imageLDRS Head shot of councillor Afrasiab Anwar. He has short dark hair and stubble and brown eyes and is wearing a pale grey suitLDRS
Afrasiab Anwar is in a row with Reform over motions on topics that do not directly impact the town

Anwar defended tabling the motion.

He said: "I'm very surprised that Reform UK would describe standing up for British interests as 'grandstanding'. I genuinely don't know what to say.

"Reform themselves have put forward motions on matters of national policy, rather than direct council functions, so I think consistency is important, both in relation to foreign policy, including their different approach to the Chagos Islands, and in deciding what should or shouldn't be debated at a local council."

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