Sandwell councillor Bob Piper investigated for hate crime after 'Nazi remark'

Sandwell Councillor Bob Piper confirmed he used the phrase ‘Sieg Heil’, but said he was ‘semi-joking’ when he made the comments and that he was willing to apologise to those affected.

He also claims the remark was made towards For Britain supporter Darryl Magher and not local blogger Julian Saunders – better known as the Sandwell Skidder – as has been suggested by locals.

“It is true. Police are charging me for a hate crime,” Councillor Piper confirmed to the Express & Star.

“But it was not a comment to Julian Saunders. He was standing with and socialising with a For Britain member - the islamophobic party.

“So I made a semi-joking remark towards the him. I said ‘Sieg Heil’ or something stupid.”

Seig Heil was a greeting used in the Third Reich during the Nazi era, but is still used by neo-Nazis today.

“Mr Saunders is trying to make it sound like it was aimed at him,” added the councillor.

“It was probably not in good taste and I am happy to apologise – but it definitely was not aimed at Mr Saunders.

“That would not make sense because as far as I know Mr Saunders is not attached to any party.”

For Britain is a minor far-right political party based in the United Kingdom, founded by the anti-Islam activist Anne Marie Waters after she was defeated in the 2017 UKIP leadership election.

Locals have also reported Councillor Piper made a Nazi salute in a local pub but he denied this.

Blogger Julian Saunders, who writes the Sandwell Skidder blog and has been a frequent critic of the Labour-run council, is currently being sued for £50,000 damages by Sarah James of the GMB Union for his ‘derogatory remarks’.

He, and Darryl Magher, both declined to make any comments about allegations against Councillor Piper.

West Midlands Police confirmed officers are investigating complaints of a racially aggravated public order offence.

A spokesman said that a 71-year-old man had been voluntarily interviewed and enquiries continue.