Bizarre moment Pat Karney dons a chicken mask during a council meeting
The Labour politician called on Rishi Sunak to call a general election
Last updated 20th Mar 2024
A Manchester councillor has donned a mask AGAIN — appearing as a chicken during a crunch meeting.
Councillor Pat Karney put the chicken head mask on as the City Council discussed a motion calling for a general election on Wednesday (March 20). The veteran Labour politician called on the Prime Minister to ‘name the date’.
“I have never known a time where people are as angry and disgusted about their government,” Coun Karney said before he dressed up as the chicken. “There’s no government in this country. Rishi Sunak spends all his time looking at his rivals.”
After he put the chicken head on, which was met with laughter, he added: “Rishi Sunak should name the date for the general election. He should name the date to bring the country back together.”
Once he stopped speaking, Labour colleague Coun Paul Andrews joked he should ‘leave it on’.
The motion passed unanimously, enjoying the support of the Greens and Lib Dems. Richard Kilpatrick, Liberal Democrat, said Jeremy Hunt’s ‘budget will not touch the sides’ for helping families in the cost-of-living crisis.
It was not the first time Coun Karney used a prop to make his point in the council chamber. Last year, the Harpurhey representative wore a ‘faceless’ mask in a protest against new laws requiring voters to have photo ID in local elections.
Donning the mask to ‘illustrate’ what people may faced under the new laws, he said: “If you come to the polling station and you haven’t got facial recognition, if you don’t bring your facial identity – and that’s everybody in Manchester, every councillor here – if you turn up at the polling station and you haven’t got a facial identity, you could be turned away and you won’t be able to vote.”
His move, which is thought came as a surprise to city leader Bev Craig, left her with her head in her hands.
Wednesday’s meeting also saw councillors agree a motion making Manchester a ‘heart safe city’, and approve an amended motion on protecting the right to protest.