VOTE: Side-swap councillor called to resign at council meeting
A FORMER Liberal Democrat councillor who joined the Conservatives has been urged to resign his seat amid remarkable scenes at a council meeting.
As reported, Councillor Neil Poole, who represents the Ridge ward on North Lincolnshire Council, left the Lib Dems to join the Conservative group.
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Lib Dem party members Richard Nixon and Gary Johnson with a banner they unfurled at a recent council meeting to show their anger at Mr Poole's defection, outside Pittwood House in Scunthorpe.
At a rowdy meeting of the full council, a banner reading "Judas" was unfurled from the public gallery at Pittwood House.
It came as Ridge ward resident and local Liberal Democrat chairman Richard Nixon used the public question time section of the meeting to ask council leader Mark Kirk about the morality of councillors switching sides, without letting the electorate have its say.
After the meeting, Mr Nixon said: "Neil has not only let himself down, but also let the party down and more importantly, he has let the voters of Ridge ward down.
"Councillor Poole should do the honourable thing and resign as a ward councillor and fight the seat in a by-election.
"As residents quite rightly point out, he was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor and not as a Conservative councillor.
"Therefore, he should not be allowed to switch parties without letting the voters of Ridge ward have their say."
Councillors from the controlling Labour group also rounded on Councillor Poole at the meeting.
Councillor Len Foster said: "It is not about anything else but politics and individual survival at the ballot box next time round.
"It is a disgrace and the people of Ridge have been treated shabbily.
"Resignation should be the honourable thing to do."
Councillor Stuart Wilson said: "A lot of people voted for him as a Liberal and what have they got? A Tory."
The attack on Councillor Poole came as councillors debated a report on the political composition of the council and constitutional changes. The report also included details of Councillor John Berry, who left the Conservative group last month and now sits as an Independent member.
Mr Poole said: "The antics of the local Lib-Lab pack at the full council meeting were to be expected.
"Nationally, the Liberal Democrats are being responsible by working in a coalition Government with the Conservatives to address the national debt, which has been created by Labour's reckless spending. It is a pity the local Liberals could not follow their national colleagues' example."
And Mr Poole said the electorate would have the opportunity to have its say at next year's local elections.
He said: "There are only ten months to go before the next council elections, when all residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes.
"A by-election now would cost the local taxpayer approximately £5,000.
"In these difficult financial times, that money would be better spent in our schools and other front line services."
12 Comments
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by Thoades, Scunny
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:40PM
“Del,
Couldn't agree with you more, It would be very refreshing to see individuals from the community nominated to stand as individuals.
Party politics have become sickening, I'm tired of reading blogs and comments by local councillors that do nothing other than attack their fellow councillors and opposition parties.
I would hope that in times as financially difficult as these now that all our local representatives could see to put their petty arguments aside and work together to support North Lincolnshire as a whole.”
by Del, Scunthorpe
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:51AM
“As i've said before, it'a about time party politics was removed from local Government. All candidates should be Independant to put and end to this petty party bickering. Maybe then they'd actually work together to improve the local area...”
by Judas, Sunny Scunny
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:31AM
“Thoades, Could not agree more. But what angers me more is the evident assumption by these parochial idiots that the vast majority of the local electorate are of an intellect and calibre, equivalent to their own. And that the electorate cannot see through their constant deluge of hyping up their political and personal self serving motives, tactics and propaganda?! Take the latest hype and blatant push from Kirk that the Pods will be complete in time for next May's elections!
PLEASE do stop insulting our intelligence!”
by Thoades, Scunny
Monday, July 19 2010, 9:58PM
“Yet again a politician putting their own needs first demonstrated by a keen nose for self survival.
"A by-election would cost the tax payer £5,000". What a poor and shallow excuse from a man who has lost the respect of the electorate.
Just as sickening is the way the Labourites are very keen to berate his actions yet publish blogs extolling the virtues of councillors in Hull crossing the floor from Liberal to Labour.
More double standards and self interests, yet again demonstrating how politicians put them selves first, then their party and then the electorate last of all.”
by Very Cross Bencher, On the benches
Monday, July 19 2010, 4:53PM
“Ah, the high moral ground claimed once again by New Labour. How their moral compass differs from their colleagues in Westminster. Shaun Woodward crosses the floor and gets a Labour safe seat followed by a cabinet position. Quentin Davies crosses the floor and has now been rewarded with a seat in the House of Lords for his treachery. Enobled gentlemen one and all!”
by Barry, Scunthorpe
Monday, July 19 2010, 2:50PM
“Well said Josh, I couldn't agree more.
Don't forget when the Tories were in control the also shut down The Screen Film Theatre in Scunthorpe Library and set about removing the name Scunthorpe from many public buildings. Why? because they hate it, they come from the outlying towns and villages and detest everything Scunthorpe.”
by Phil, Barton
Monday, July 19 2010, 12:02PM
“This guy stood as a Lib Dem MP just four weeks earlier. Lets not forget that.
And as for the car the Conservative administration didnt spend £43k on a mayors car - thats correct. They spent £50k on one!!!! Not to mention the fuel it drank!!!!
As for dignity, wit and backbone. Lets commend Mr Poole for having the forseight to see as a professional politician he was going to lose his seat. May as well have a proper tory than a pretend one at the next elections.
This is nothing to do with political ideologies. More to do with protecting self interests. So much for the electorate.”
by kno it all, barton-upon-humber
Monday, July 19 2010, 11:50AM
“Josh I hope that Captain Kirk and his bunch of idiots are kicked out at the next elections at least the Conservatives were and will save the ratepayers money whereas Kirks bunch are spending it like confetti (Pods £24million,Baths Hall £14.5million,Berkley Circle fiasco £100,000s ,Brittania corner barriers for the drunks £18,000,and now the new car £43,000.+++++The taxpayers of north lincs will pay a heavy price for Kirks administrations spending!!!!”
by Caring Conservative, On holiday in Scunthorpe
Monday, July 19 2010, 11:02AM
“Mr Poole will make an excellent Consevative . Hopefully we will be able to put Neil up as a local Conservative candidate at the next election . We will cherry pick Lib councillors and Mps to join us and then make sure we don't need a coalition next time around .”
by Mick Can't, Word Press UK
Monday, July 19 2010, 10:49AM
“Neil Poole's actions are disgusting but don't mention Quentin Davies on my blog or I'll ban ye.I wouldn't want labour double standards being brought up.”