Suspended Labour councillor denies encouraging violent disorder

Ricky Jones pleads not guilty after video emerged in which he appeared to call for far-right protesters’ throats to be ‘cut’

A suspended Labour councillor has pleaded not guilty to encouraging violent disorder while addressing a crowd during an anti-racism demonstration in east London.

Ricky Jones, 57, allegedly committed the offence during a speech to a gathering that was organised in response to the nationwide violent disorder, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, on 7 August.