Lord mayor of Liverpool resigns after sharing racist video comparing black person to a monkey

‘Please find it in your heart to forgive this huge mistake,’ pleads Peter Brennan

The Labour lord mayor of Liverpool has resigned after sharing a racist video on WhatsApp.

Councillor Peter Brennan is understood to have posted footage that contained material comparing a black person to a monkey.

Lord mayor is a ceremonial position. Joe Anderson, the directly-elected mayor of Liverpool, called the video “appalling”.

He added in a statement: “The hurt that this will have caused to people across the city, including members of my own family, is unacceptable from someone who we have given the honour to act as our first citizen.

“I have spoken to [Mr] Brennan this morning and after that conversation he has agreed to stand down immediately.

“I have also referred the matter to the Labour Party regionally and nationally. His position as a member of the Labour Party will be dealt with in accordance with party rules.”

Mr Brennan is a trustee of the Anthony Walker Foundation, an anti-racism group founded following the murder of a teenager in 2005.

In a Facebook post the organisation said it planned to conduct a “full review” into the WhatsApp video.

Mr Anderson said the footage was posted exactly 14 years after Walker’s murder.

In a statement, Mr Brennan apologised for the post, saying it was “a very stupid thing to do” but that he had not intended to “cause harm”.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “The black community I have clearly offended will have lost confidence in me for making such a calamitous mistake, I clearly can not represent our wonderfully diverse community if people are angry and upset with me.

“I apologise for this serious misjudgement and it something that has scarred me and will live with me always, please find it in your heart to forgive this huge mistake.”

Liverpool City Council said it would announce a new lord mayor shortly.