Councillor who harassed residents through anonymous Twitter account reinstated

A councillor who broke the code of conduct by harassing residents through an anonymous Twitter account has been reinstated.

Leo Pollak has been reinstated to the Southwark cabinet two years after he resigned.

In 2021, Mr Pollak resigned from his position of cabinet member for housing before being found to have broken the council’s code of conduct.

An external investigation found his harassment of residents on Twitter represented a breach of Southwark’s code of conduct for councillors.

At the time, leader of Southwark council, Councillor Kieron Williams, described Mr Pollak’s actions as a “serious error of judgement”.

However, at Southwark’s annual meeting on Saturday, it was announced that Mr Pollak would be returning to the cabinet as the deputy cabinet member for housing allocations.

Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, Cllr Victor Chamberlain, said: “In 2021, this councillor was found to be anonymously haranguing residents online, attempting to shut down any criticism of council policy with personal attacks against campaigners. 

“Now, just two years later, the leader of the council thinks he can sneak him back into the fold.

“Southwark’s cabinet should be one of transparency and integrity, and yet here they are welcoming back a member whose complete contempt for concerned residents got him kicked out just 24 months prior. 

“This appointment is an insult to residents and we urge them to rethink.”

Council Kieron Williams, leader of Southwark council, said: “Local residents have re-elected Cllr Pollak to serve the people of Southwark and I’m glad he will be doing just that in this role.

“He joins a new strengthened housing team within the cabinet, and will be using his nationally recognised expertise to help improve the way we let our homes, so many more local people can move into a council home.”

Pictured top: Leo Pollak and the Southwark council building (Picture: Southwark council, Google Street View)