WATCH: Councillor with blue badge defends TikTok step dance video
A councillor who has a blue badge has defended videos of him dancing on social media as a “bit of fun”.
Walsall councillor Lee Jeavons posted footage of himself dancing on TikTok, including up steps in his garden.
He is seen moving up the steps while doing a moonwalk-type dance in the 14-second clip, while another, lasting around 20 seconds, shows him dancing to the Men in Black soundtrack in a car park.
WATCH the videos here:
Councillor Jeavons said he was granted a blue badge due to a lung condition which meant he was unable to walk for long periods without difficulty.
The Labour member for Birchills Leamore said the “stars aligned” on the day the video in his garden was filmed during lockdown as the “air was good” and he “felt good”.
Drivers can receive a blue badge if they are disabled, have long-term health conditions or have problems walking or getting around.
Councillor Jeavons, who was elected in 2010 and is a former deputy leader of Walsall Council, insisted his condition shouldn’t stop himself from having fun.
On the garden dance, he said: “TikTok is about 15 seconds worth of dancing and I just about managed 15 seconds’ worth. Looking at the dance, it’s not particularly energetic.
“It was during that period of lockdown, the air was good, I felt good. It was a rare occasion where the stars aligned.
“What are disabled people supposed to do, just succumb? I was judged to be able to have a blue badge.
“I can't walk at the same pace as other people, I can’t walk for extended periods of time. I get quite short of breath and cough a lot.
“I do do TikTok. It’s a bit of fun, to stop me going mental. I was showing that while I’m a councillor I’m still a human being and like to have fun.”
Councillor Jeavons said his application for a blue badge was approved earlier this year.
“As a councillor I have to get out and about. I use my vehicle most of the time to do that.
“If I had to walk to the corner shop I could do it on a summer day maybe but I would get absolute burning in my lungs,” he said.
“They do review the blue badge procedure. If they take it away they take it away.”
Councillor Jeavons suggested the videos were leaked to “stir up trouble”.
“In politics you make friends and some enemies,” he added.
