Gloucestershire councillor steps back from party after being charged with assault
Cllr Nick Housden represents Stonehouse
Last updated 9th Mar 2023
A Gloucestershire councillor has announced that he will temporarily step back from his party, after being charged with assault.
Cllr Nick Housden, 32, has been charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after an alleged incident in November last year.
Cllr Housden represents Stonehouse on Gloucestershire County Council and Stroud District Council.
He is also the deputy group leader of the Conservatives at Ebley Mill and was a cabinet member at Shire Hall for a few months last year.
In a statement released in twitter, he has confirmed that he will step back from the Conservative party group, until legal issues have been dealt with. Mr Housden says he will use the time to return to good health, having recently had a heart attack.
He also revealed that him and his family have recently been the target of some racist comments.
In the open letter, he says, "I want to highlight the horrific racist comments that have been made about my family & children. This is not something any politician should have to put up with. It isn't, and shouldn't be, 'part of the job'. I will always stand up against racism and I will not be apologetic about that".
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary says, “Nicholas Edward Housden, 32, has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
“The charge relates to an incident on High Street, Stonehouse on November 2 last year"
Mr Housden will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on the 4th April.