A councilman who told Jackie Weaver to “read and understand” the standing orders during Handforth Council’s infamous Zoom meeting said life has been “hell” since the clip went viral.
Aled Brewerton, 46, who resigned after the chaotic parish council meeting went viral, said he and his father still feel “uneasy” about being seen in public after it took the internet by storm and garnered millions of views. .
Mr Brewerton, who previously represented West Ward, says he received death threats following the line in which Jackie Weaver was told “you have no authority here.”
Two years later, he said he and his father, Keith Brewerton, 76, avoid local pubs because they “don’t want to get involved in civil disobedience” because they feel “it’s shameful for our town”.
Both were present at the December 2020 parish council call that turned into chaos.
Keith and Aled also claim that the video should not have been posted in the first place due to privacy concerns, which would have stopped the viral storm.
One of the men who infamously yelled at Ms Weaver during the remote video call, Vice President Aled Brewerton (left), has resigned from the council.
During the parish council’s Zoom meeting, it was discovered that Ms. Weaver struggled to maintain control of the unruly meeting, and was memorably told, ‘You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver! No authority at all!
When Mrs. Weaver kicked out Chairman Brian Tolver, 74, from the Zoom call, Aled began berating her, yelling, “Read the standing orders, read them and understand them!”
He was later removed from the meeting as well.
And during the edited seven-minute package of audience highlights, someone is heard exclaiming ‘fuck you’ at the beginning, a toilet flushes and another person opens the front door as councilors from two rival factions they struggle with the mute button. .
The East Cheshire Council Audit and Governance Committee has also launched an inquiry into what happened during the meeting. In March 2022, the council released six reports, totaling 145 pages, that considered attendee behavior before and during the meeting.
Aled and Keith briefly became famous after the video was picked up in February 2021.
But now, they say their lives have been negatively affected.
Aled has stated: ‘I have been told that I deserve to die and burn in hell. It’s so bad that even my partner has been threatened.
‘I did not resign from the parish council for any investigation; I quit because the facts made me sick and I was fed up.
‘It was an absolute disaster. Neighborhood councils wouldn’t work with us, we were the butt of every joke. It really was embarrassing.
Handforth Parish Council, now known as Handforth Council, operates in the Cheshire town of the same name, which is home to around 6,000 people.
He rarely made headlines, that is, until the recorded meeting went viral and the world’s media took an interest.
In the video, Aled demanded that Ms. Weaver should “read the standing orders, read them and understand them.”
During the Zoom call, Aled began berating Ms. Weaver and yelled, “Read the standing orders, read and understand them!”
Aled Brewerton Finally Opened Up About His Participation In The Local Democracy Viral Zoom Call
Parish Clerk Jackie Weaver during a Handforth Parish Council meeting, who became an unlikely internet sensation after the Zoom call turned into chaos.
Following this, he became a minor celebrity and an overnight sensation for his calm handling of irate councillors.
However, Keith and Aled say they have been harassed by the public ever since.
The couple allege they have received threats from the public and cannot even enjoy a pint without mention of the video.
Aled resigned from the council in April 2021, explaining: ‘Basically, it’s been two years of hell.
“Now we have a situation where certain people don’t say, ‘Oh, it’s Handforth Council.’ The initials used are HCC – Handforth Clown Council.
‘That’s not just in this area, I’ve seen it on YouTube nationally and on Facebook nationally and that’s embarrassing for our village.
I have been told that my home address has been shared on the internet and on social media.
And when I have to go out in public I feel uncomfortable.
Aled’s resignation came days after President Tolver stepped down in 2021, citing criticism he had received for his behavior during the online meeting.
Aled Brewerton, a councillor, and his father, Keith Brewerton, say they received death threats after the dispute and still feel uneasy in their local pubs.
Zoom parish council president Brian Tolver (pictured) revealed that Ms. Weaver actually kicked him out of the Zoom call. She resigned in 2021, citing criticism she had received for his behavior during the online meeting.
Keith added: “It’s very easy to be abusive on the internet when it’s not a face-to-face meeting and you can use a different name.”
“I went to a local pub with one of Aled’s friends on Aled’s birthday and people came in and started singing to us.
‘If we go to a pub, we go out of town, we don’t go to the local pubs because we don’t want to get involved in civil disobedience.
‘It took me a long time to convince Aled that he could go to town alone and do his shopping.
“There’s never been a problem, but it’s the thought in the back of your mind that there might be a problem.”
Keith and Aled also claim that the video should not have been posted in the first place due to privacy concerns, which would have stopped the viral storm.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it had investigated a complaint but closed the case without taking further action.
An ICO spokesperson said: ‘The board stated that the recording of these meetings is standard as they are public.
“As a result, we provide guidance on data protection issues, including reminding them of the importance of ensuring their privacy policies are clear and warning the public that their data may be captured during the recording of these meetings.
They were also reminded of the legal basis on which the data is processed. The case has since been closed without further action being taken.