A SUSPENDED Labour councillor has pleaded not guilty to a charge of 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, organised in response to the nationwide far-right disorder, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, on August 7.

A video emerged after the protest in which he appeared to call for far-right protesters’ throats to be “cut” during the demonstration.

Two days later, police charged Mr Jones with encouraging violent disorder.

The defendant, who appeared via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, spoke to confirm his identity and enter the not-guilty plea during a brief hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court today.

During a previous hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court, deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram said: “It is alleged that, using a microphone, you addressed a crowd at an anti-fascist protest and, talking about others you described as ‘disgusting Nazi fascists,’ you said ‘we need to cut their throats and get rid of them’.”

Defence barrister Hossein Zahir KC said that Mr Jones accepted that the words had been spoken but denied knowing the offence of violent disorder would be committed.

A trial has been provisionally scheduled for January 20 next year.