A COUNCILLOR suspended from the Labour Party after using a racist word in a meeting has told the Chronicle he will step down at the local elections in May.
Wombwell’s Coun Dick Wraith, a councillor since 1976, used the outdated phrase ‘nigger in the woodpile’ in reference to something which was going to ‘prove awkward later’.
“”I’m not a racist, this has devastated me,” he said. “It is just a phrase, I shouldn’t have said it, but I didn’t mean anything by it at all.”
He told the Chronicle last week he was contemplating an appeal, but this week said it was time to ‘put it to bed’.
“I’ve enjoyed serving on the council, I’ve always been a people’s person,” he said. “I am sorry to go and I’m very sorry if I have caused any offence.”
