Council Leader Faces Heckles After Telling Campaigner to 'Shut Up'
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird was met with loud heckles from a packed public gallery after he appeared to tell a museum campaigner to "shut up" during a tense full council meeting on Thursday night. The heated exchange occurred as Councillor Bird defended controversial plans to relocate the borough's Leather Museum.
Campaigner Demands Answers on Museum Relocation
Linda Boys, speaking at the meeting, demanded detailed explanations about the council's proposal to move the Leather Museum from its current Littleton Street West location to an unspecified town centre site. The current building would be converted into a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) facility for Walsall College.
Ms Boys raised serious concerns about what she described as "inconsistencies, subsequent denial of rights for stakeholders, consultation and financial duties" in the council's approach. She presented a comprehensive list of questions regarding the decision-making process.
"We can't afford to get this wrong," Ms Boys stated emphatically. "Can the council explain why the current proposal, which appears to present as a change in policy, has not been consulted upon?"
Her detailed questions covered multiple aspects of the proposal including compliance with asset management strategy, funding sources within the capital programme, and projected costs for relocation, storage, insurance, staffing, and ongoing building maintenance.
Council Leader Defends Decision Process
Councillor Bird responded by asserting that the relocation plans were consistent with existing policies and had followed proper governance procedures. He emphasized that the decision had been made transparently and published on the council's official website.
"The decision was considered transparently and published on the council's website," Councillor Bird explained. "It has since been reviewed twice by the scrutiny committee who have the power to revert the decision to the council, but decided not to. They referred it back to the decision making body, which was the cabinet."
The council leader insisted this was not a policy change but rather an enhancement of the museum's cultural function through improved visibility and accessibility in a town centre location that would integrate better with other cultural and regeneration activities.
Regarding financial details, Councillor Bird stated that publishing specific cost information at this stage would be "inappropriate" and could potentially compromise the council's commercial position in ongoing negotiations.
Heated Exchange Erupts During Meeting
When Ms Boys called for an immediate pause in the plans and requested an extraordinary meeting of full council to reconsider the decision, Councillor Bird responded with a firm "no." The situation escalated when Ms Boys interrupted the leader as he referenced case law to support his position.
Pointing directly at Ms Boys, Councillor Bird declared: "Look, the constitution says you want an answer to the question, if you don't want it then shut up."
He continued: "The cabinet has made their decision which is constitutional and as a result it would be unlawful to go back and change that decision, so therefore the answer is no."
This remark prompted immediate heckling from members of the public gallery, with multiple voices calling for Councillor Bird to apologize for his choice of words. The incident highlighted the growing tension between council leadership and community campaigners over the future of the Leather Museum.
The proposed relocation has become a contentious issue in Walsall, with supporters arguing it will improve the museum's accessibility and integration with town centre regeneration, while opponents question the consultation process, financial implications, and potential impact on the museum's collections and operations.
