Commissioner Alan Hardwick, Independent (Lincolnshire Force Area), has been forced to accept the conclusions of a report he himself commissioned into allegations made against Temporary Chief Constable, Neil Rhodes.
In another misstep for Commissioner Hardwick a report, by the widely respected Chief Constable of Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy, has declared that allegations against Chief Constable Rhodes as "unsubstantiated".
Chief Constable Rhodes was suspended over his involvement in a dispute where he was accused
of helping a former employee at West Yorkshire Police pursue a claim of racial
discrimination which he knew to be contrived.
The
report concluded there was no evidence to suggest that Neil Rhodes acted improperly
in his role as a Chief Police Officers Staff Association "friend" to the
employee. In the report Sir Peter said he
had 'complete confidence' Chief Constable Rhodes acted 'from the best of motives' to try and 'achieve a reasonable compromise' He added:
"The investigation team conclude that Mr Rhodes did not exceed the
intended boundaries or scope of a CPOSA friend as he properly understood
them."
The report accepted there might have been a conflict of interest in some
areas but also suggested more clarity is needed nationally, on the role of CPOSA
friends.
In response to the report, Mr Hardwick said:
"I had to
take on a serious complaint that was made to me and the way I went around that,
I believe, was the right way. I couldn't ignore it.
"I remain troubled by the nature of the allegation and that it has not been
possible for the investigating officer to determine exactly what happened in a
private conversation between two highly regarded and credible
professionals."
Commissioner Hardwick said the suspension had never been a personal issue and a
judicial review had cost him £37,500, alone - questions are still to be answered about the cost to taxpayers about this sorry affair. Back in March Mr. Justice Stuart-Smith ruled that the Commissioner's decision was 'irrational'
and 'perverse', determining that the Chief Constable's suspension was therefore
unlawful. The judicial intervention was sparked when the Independent Police Complaints Commission were approach by Commissioner Hardwick to investigate and they determined that there was insufficient evidence for them to conduct an investigation.
Following publication of Sir Peter's report, in a statement, Mr Rhodes said:
"I have sought over the last six months to
maintain a dignified silence, safe in the knowledge that I knew there was never
any substance in the spurious allegation.
"The past few months have been unusually challenging. Following the judicial
review decision, the commissioner and I resolved that we must draw a line
beneath this matter, for the good of Lincolnshire, and demonstrate we could work
together productively and positively."
Commissioner Hardwick had been Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner for just three months when he took the decision to suspend Neil
Rhodes. The matter has attracted critics at Westminster, with the Chairman of the Home
Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz MP, describing the way the chief constable's
suspension was handled as a 'sorry state of affairs'. There have also been calls for Commisioner Hardwick to resign, amongst these local West Lindsey District Councillor, Cllr. Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward), who said:
"Commissioner Hardwick has once again been found wanting. First we had the refusal of the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate the matter then the Judge's ruling and now the investigation that he set up himself has found that the allegations were unsubstantiated.
"It is hardly a surprise then that people are calling for the TV anchorman-come-Police Commissioner to resign. He has demonstrated again, clearly that he is not up to the job.
It is understood that Chief Constable Rhodes intends to apply for the post of permanent chief constable when
it is advertised.
Cllr. Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward), has called on Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Harwick to resign following the humiliating ruling by a High Court Judge at a hearing in Manchester.
Mr. Justice Stuart-Smith said the the Commissioner's decision was 'irrational' and 'perverse', determining that the Chief Constable's suspension was therefore unlawful.
Cllr. McNeill said:
"It is clear that Alan Hardwick is not up to the job of being Police and Crime Commissioner. He has bungled this suspension of the Chief Constable, Neil Rhodes.
"It was clear that something was amiss when, having referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, they decided that the matter was not sufficient for their investigation.
"The time has come for Commissioner Hardwick to do the honourable thing and resign."
Commissioner Hardwick, Independent (Lincolnshire Force Area), has appointed the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester to undertake an independent investigation.
Rachel Hubbard has resigned as the Councillor for the Lincoln Bracebridge Division of Lincolnshire County Council.
Mrs. Hubbard was elected in June 2009 and in her four years with the council served as Executive Support Councillor to Cllr. Peter Robinson, portfolio holder for Community Safety, Cohesion and Diversity, and as a member of the Economic Scrutiny Committee.
Cllr. Martin Hill OBE, Conservative Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said:
"It's a real shame that she's had to step down because of her health.
"A new councillor for Lincoln Bracebridge will be elected in May, but, in the meantime Cllr. Kelly Smith, who represents a neighbouring division, has agreed to fill in."
Mr. Mervyn Barrett OBE has withdrawn from the contest to become Lincolnshire's first Police and Crime Commissioner the Lincolnshire Echo is tonight reporting. Mr. Barrett's decision followed a campaign which had fallen to pieces in recent days after a disastrous turn at a hustings event in Boston, the resignation of his entire campaign team on Saturday because of revelations which were subsequently published in The Sunday Telegraph regarding the financing of his campaign by a group likely to lobby for greater privatisation of policing services.
Mr. Barrett confirmed he was pulling out ahead of tonight's and Crime Commissioner hustings at Lincoln Drill Hall, organised by the Lincolnshire Echo. Mr. Barrett said:
"I will be withdrawing from the election and will be issuing a press statement tomorrow."
The Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan, online,was quick to claim the scalp for the paper:
"Mervyn Barrett, the remarkably well-funded independent candidate to be police and crime commissioner in Lincolnshire, reacted with the standard huffing and puffing to our expose on Sunday about his links with a neo-con US thinktank. Not that he’s actually denied it, or anything else specific that we wrote, of course. And tonight, inevitably, two days after his campaign team resigned, Mervyn has followed them out of the door."
Mr. Barrett, one of the more high profile candidates, worked for the crime reduction charity NACRO for more than three decades and was granted an OBE in 1999 for services to crime reduction.
It was not too long ago, last year, that Gainsborough's Liberal Democrats were proud to announce that they had secured a majority on Gainsborough Town Council, after otherwise disastrous local election results for West Lindsey District Council - knocking them back to their lowest number of district councillors since 1992.
They got off to a flying start, suspending all committees to conduct a governance review (rumoured to be costing the authority several thousand pounds) and then later announcing a cut of 3.8%, in the Town Council's portion of the Council Tax for 2012/13, at the start of 2012. However, this momentum has stalled. Now the Council is in Crisis - with calls for the authority to be abolished.
In January the authority had it's first resignation. Cllr. Mrs. Pearl Banyard, Non-Aligned (Gainsborough East Ward), who was first elected in 1996, and who resigned on grounds of ill health. A by-election was called and Cllr. Sean Brennan, Non-Aligned (East Ward) elected.
Then in March Cllr. Ms Julie Nicolson, Liberal Democrat (North West Ward) resigned for reasons unknown. The minutes of the subsequent Town Council meeting merely mention, perhaps tactfully, the fact of it, but not the substance. On 26th April Cllr. Dave Dobbie, Liberal Democrat (North West Ward) was elected.
As April came to a close, Cllr. Robin Perry, Liberal Democrat (North West Ward) - who had replaced Cllr. Dobbie on the Council in August 2011, because post election paperwork had not been properly submitted - resigned from the Liberal Democrat party.
Cllr. Perry now sits as an Independent.
According to the Gainsborough Standard he no longer saw eye-to-eye with the party and claimed 'bullying' tactics were being used to make councillors toe the party line. He said:
"Being a councillor is about the residents of Gainsborough and they should come first, not our own personal agendas."
Then, only days later, just prior to the Town Council's Annual Meeting, on Tuesday, 7th May 2012, two councillors resigned. The first, and most dramatic, was Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Gainsborough Town Council, Cllr. Trevor Young, Liberal Democrat (South West Ward).
A spokesman for Gainsborough Town Council confirmed his shock resignation stating:
"Councillor Young handed his notice of resignation to us on Tuesday at 4pm stating personal and professional reasons."
Cllr. Young, who continues to represent the South West Ward on West Lindsey District Council, said the Town Council was 'drowning' after 'years of previous mismanagement', reported the Gainsborough Standard. He said that despite the £4,000 governance review aimed at improving the council, there was still a 'lack of commitment to change'.
"Less than half the councillors and officers turned up for the workshops."
He also said there was a lack of openness and transparency between officers and councillors, which had created 'major concerns' over financial issues.
"No-one on that council knows if the accounts show significant over spending or under spending at any one time.
"The only option, I believe, is for the council to self opt into special measures, so that the district council can take over for 12-24 months
"This council is in crisis. Other bodies desperately need to intervene to get it back on track."
Meanwhile, Cllr. Brennan joined Cllr. Young in resigning. He stated that his 'personal integrity' would not have allowed him to stay.
"I was motivated to stand for election by a desire to serve my local community."
Cllr. Brennan said in the short period he had served (six weeks), he had become convinced the public body was 'a horrifically poor waste of public resources'.
"The only way value for money can be achieved is by the town council being abolished."
"In the meetings I have attended I have seen pure maladministration and an embarrassing level of incompetence."
Two by-elections have now been called for Thursday, 12th July 2012. In the East Ward contest there are four candidates:
Richard Charles Banyard (Independent)
John William Beaver (UKIP)
James Alexander Plastow (Non Aligned)
Michael Tinker (Liberal Democrat)
Mr. Michael Tinker, serves as both a District and County Councillor for Gainsborough and so is widely expected to win with a comfortable margin. However, the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) are eager to secure a by election win - even on to a first tier council - There local Party Chairman, Mr. Nick Smith recently wrote, encouraging activists:
"John Beavers campaign will kick off with leafleting on Sunday 1st July at 2pm this is to catch the postal voters which get their votes on the 3rd July.
"Followed up by leafleting on Tuesday the 3rd July".
They both have the potential to take the seat.
Meanwhile, In the South West Ward contest there is a straight fight between two candidates:
John Butler (Gainsborough Residents Concerns and Issues)
Timothy Mark Davies (Independent)
Little is known about John Butler and the 'Gainsborough Residents Concerns and Issues' name, is not a party but a description. Mr. Davies is a former Town Mayor and is seeking a likely return to the authority. Either candidate has the potential to be successful, what is surprising is that in a ward which went solidly Liberal Democrat in May 2011 the party has not managed to field a candidate.
In conclusion there are significant difficulties being experienced by Gainsborough Town Council. Both from internal factors, such as the machinations of the ruling Liberal Democrat group and mistrust of the authority's staff by councillors, and external factor such as dwindling public support for the council by the residents of Gainsborough.
For the Liberal Democrats the impact of failings, within and without, of Gainsborough Town Council is the loss of credibility with the local electorate. Gainsborough Town Council is the only authority locally they can point to and demonstrate what the hallmark of a Liberal Democrat administration is. Looking at the current situation in Gainsborough perhaps the politicisation of the Council is nothing to be proud of.
Lincolnshire County Councillor, Rev. Sara Cliff, Conservative (Lincoln East Division), has resigned as a member of the county council following 'unwarranted hostility in the press'.
Rev. Cliff was born in Manchester and had been resident in Lincoln for four years, when she was elected in 2009. She was a Governor of Waddington Redwood School. Rev. Cliff left teaching in 2001 when she held the position of Head of Year, as a science teacher, with responsibility for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Her work as a Methodist Minister reflected her lifetime involvement of working with the voluntary and community sectors.
Rev. Cliff's attendance had been a cause for concern and the DailyMail reported that a Lincolnshire County Council spokesman had confirmed her poor attendance as having been flagged up to the Conservative Party by authority clerks. She is the only county councillor to have this happen in the three years of this council.
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr. Martin Hill, Conservative (Folkingham Rural Division) admitted he had spoken to Rev.Cliff about her attendance levels six months ago, the paper reported.
"There is no doubt her attendance of late has not been good at all."
In a statement to the Lincolnshire Echo, Rev. Cliff said:
"I have taken the decision to resign my position from the county council.
"While I did feel willing and able to carry on representing the people of Lincoln East, in view of the unwarranted hostility in the press, I am clear that this action is in the best interests of the Methodist church, the county council and my own family.
Following criticism from local residents, and in the press, that the outgoing councillor had not allocated her 'Big Society Fund', Rev. Cliff clarified that:
"As a matter of record I have awarded my Big Society Fund to St Barnabas to help support the excellent services they provide."
Roger Helmer MEP (Right) with the Leader of the United
Kingdom Independence Party, Nigel Farage MEP (Left)
Roger Helmer MEP has announced that he is leaving the
Conservative Party and joining the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).
Mr. Helmer has been an Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands
region since 1999, having been re-elected in 2004 and again in 2009. He
has made his concerns over Conservative policy very public in recent months.
He made his announcement at UKIP’s Spring Conference in Skegness. Commenting on
his decision, Mr. Helmer said:
“The fact is that UKIP represents the values and convictions
of East Midlands Conservatives much better than Cameron’s Tory Party
does. I believe I can do a better job representing those views and
interests as a member of UKIP than I could in the Tory Party. The
European project is collapsing before our eyes, yet the three main parties
remain wedded to the Brussels dream. UKIP is the only party which is
ahead of the curve on this issue, and on other issues as well”.
In a letter to his former colleagues in the Conservative
Party Mr. Helmer writes:
Giles McNeill has today resigned from his post as Area Chairman of Conservative Future in Lincolnshire in a letter to the East Midlands CF Regional Chairman, Thomas Turrell, copied to local activists he said:
"I would like to tender my resignation from the post of Area Chairman of Conservative Future in Lincolnshire. Owing to growing work commitments and the prospect of the considerable challenge presented by the move to 'all out' elections for West Lindsey District Council next year; I feel I am not best placed to continue in this role.
"I have enjoyed very much both of my Chairmanships of Lincolnshire and the successes that the Area has achieved in recent years to all parts of Conservative Future in the county.
"In the future I look forward to supporting you in your role as Regional Chairman & the executive team, my successor (pro tem), Mr. Robin Hunter-Clarke, and continuing as Branch Chairman for Gainsborough CF. The challenges we face in 2011 - the referendum on AV, local council elections and continuing to build a strong youth movement rooted in Conservative values across the East Midlands - will require hard work and dedication and the careful avoidance of side-issues which steer us all from our core objectives."
Cllr. Oliver Peeke, Conservative (Moorland Ward) has resigned from Lincoln City Council.
Cllr. Peeke was first elected on Thursday 29th June 2006 in a by-election beating competition from Labour, Liberal Democrat, British National Party and United Kingdom Independence Party candidates.
He was born and educated in Billingham, attending St. Michael's Roman Catholic School and completed his A Levels at Bede Sixth Form College. He went on to gain a Bachelor of Arts in Politics at Lincoln University.
Oliver Peeke was formally City Council Cabinet member for Tourism and Economic Development in Lincoln. He oversaw organisation of the annual and famous Lincoln Christmas Market and was keen to revive aspects of Lincoln such as the now derelict Grandstand. He was compelled to resign his post over a story published in the Lincolnshire Echo relating to his Facebook profile. More recently he has courted controversy again with his views on Climate Change and Global Warming.
He is currently Deputy Chairman of Lincoln Conservative Association where he plays a key role in organising local Conservative Party campaigning.
Cllr. Peeke has been and remains an advocate of personal freedom, enterprise, low taxes, liberty and is a supporter of the Cornerstone Group of Conservative MPs.
It is understood that Cllr. Peeke resigned on Monday, 22nd March 2010 citing wanting to follow a career in teaching.
His resignation means that the Moorland Ward will have two vacancies to be filled at Local Government Elections the Lincoln City Council Website states:
"Following Councillor Oliver Peeke's resignation as a Moorland Ward councillor of the City of Lincoln Council, the vacancy will be filled in the election held on 6 May 2010."
A Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate has been forced to resign after pressure from a Conservative opponent over sexually gratuitous smears.
Last week the activities of Mr. Greg Stone, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East, were highlighted by Jonathan Isaby on ConservativeHome. He had been using a pseudonym to post extremely personal attacks on Conservative and Labour MPs on the Guido Fawkes blog and his suitability to remain as a parliamentary candidate was raised by his Conservative opponent, Mr. Dominic Llewellyn who commented on his blog here.
Yesterday, Mr. Stone finally realised that his position was untenable and resigned.
Former Ministers Geoff Hoon MP and Patricia Hewitt MP began a campaign today to remove Prime Minister Gordon Brown by calling for a ballot of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Just as Labour seemed to be uniting in the final months before a General Election, Mr. Hoon and Mrs. Hewitt were, according to the BBC's Nick Robinson, reportedly texting other Labour MPs furiously requesting a secret Ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership.
My Conservative Future colleague, Simon Cavalier-Jones on The Conservative Blog broke the story, beating both the BBC and Sky.
In the early moments of this plot it was hard to judge what level of support the revolt had, but as the minutes turned to hours further details emerged. If they could get enough support and momentum behind them it could be the end of Gordon Brown's Premiership.
Veteran backbencher, Frank Field MP became the first Labour parliamentarian to come out and back the Hoon/Hewitt campaign (ConservativeHome calling it the SnowStorm Plot), hotly followed by former Labour Home Secretary, and perennial revoltee Charles Clarke MP.
A letter due for publication in tonight's London Evening Standard from Mrs. Hewitt and Mr. Hoon, set out the basis for the challenge - that they feel the issue of leadership and internal briefings is undermining the party.
Patricia Hewitt MP on the BBC Radio 4's World at One said:
"I have not spoken to David [Miliband] about this. I have not spoken to any cabinet member about this. This is not an attempted coup it is exactly what we say on the letter.
"It could be done very, very quickly it could actually be done next Monday with the result declared at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting that happens every Monday."
One hour into the news breaking Paul Waugh of the London Evening Standard was blogging about a rumours of a potential resignation by disgruntled cabinet minister, Theresa Jowell MP, yesterday evening. The trade union, Unite, called on Mr. Brown's challengers to drop their 'divisive and damaging' call for a ballot. Geraldine Smith MP, slammed the letter as a 'cowards charter' and the plotters as 'spineless'.
"I think it's a cowards charter and I think they are out of touch with a lot of Labour MP... What angers me is that the people involved are so spineless."
Ms Smith claimed there were few Labour MPs involved in the plan.
"They were huddled together [last night] in a little corner and I'd say there are no more than 10 to 20 people involved in this."
This was quickly followed by Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles Calling for a General Election declaring
"We can't go on like this."
At 13:51 Sky News reported that Gordon Brown might be turning to unlikely sources for help amid the crisis. Sky's Glen Oglaza tweets that Henry Winkler (a.k.a. The Fonz from Happy Days) just entered Downing Street.
David Blunkett, another former Labour Home Secretary is reported as saying:
"It is not possible according to our party's rules, it is not wanted by the PLP and, what is more, it is not needed."
Two hours into the crisis beginning Andy Burnham MP is the fist Labour Minister to decry the Hoon/Hewett campaign. Minuted later Mrs. Hewitt appears on Sky News saying:
"There is division on this issue, it is weakening us.
"We've had months punctuated by public calls for the prime minister to go, by resignations, by speculation, by private worries. I've had people in my constituency who strongly support the prime minister by want the issue resolved."
Barry Sheerman emerged at a quarter past two and tells the BBC that Gordon Brown cannot call for loyalty from Labour MPs after failing to show loyalty to Tony Blair:
"My loyalty is to my principles, my moral principles, my political principles, to my country and then to my party and I don't need anyone who undermined the previous Prime Minister and who was utterly disloyal telling me that I am disloyal,"
He also rejected claims that a secret ballot of MPs was against Labour party rules, insisting it was necessary to give backbenchers a say on the matter
."I understand there is no barrier for us to have a secret ballot otherwise why have the Parliamentary Labour Party? It's not only the place where the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers perform on a Monday night and the backbenchers have no voice at all.
"That is what caused frustration over this last period that the Parliamentary Labour Party has been manipulated by Gordon Brown and by the whips to stop us having an open discussion and having a vote."
Margaret Beckett weighs in with:
"I take the view that it’s a complete diversion, a waste of time, a big mistake, and should be ignored."
Asked what she would say to the Prime Minister if she were to speak to him she says:
"I would probably tell him fairly robustly to tell them where to go."
As the three hour mark of this crisis reared it's head John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw bemoaned the call for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown’s leadership as 'self indulgence by two pompous idiots'. He said that Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt were 'serial plotters' adding 'these two have got previous, they attempted to backstab Blair, now they’re trying to backstab Brown'.
He claimed that Geoff Hoon was acting out of 'sour grapes' having not got a job in Europe and added:
"I’d like to take him into a back room and sort it out with him, because that is what he needs."
He went on to accuse Patricia Hewitt of 'raking in the money' from the private sector. He said she’s
"been raking in money from the private sector using her contact book, and that’s totally unacceptable."
At a quarter past three Nick Robinson reads a text message from Lord Mandelson:
"This is a complete overreaction, these people are not members of the government, no-one is resigning from the government."
Shortly thereafter Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan MP backs Gordon Brown's leadership.
Three and a half hours into the crisis senior cabinet minister, Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, dismissed the call for a secret ballot as a 'damp squib' and insists the cabinet is backing Gordon Brown.
"The government, the cabinet, the Labour party is fully behind Gordon Brown. He's the best leader to take us into the general election, he's also the best person to take the country through the global downturn."
Former minister Tony McNulty MP offers his take on both the weather and the challenge to Gordon Brown's leadership, claiming the plot
"will be as fleeting as the melting snow outside"
He should probably see the snow which has begun to accumulate by a magnitude.
A quarter to five and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman MP, finally speaks: "
I was dismayed to hear in the early hours of this morning that once again there was a fire blazing in Camberwell and that residents were being evacuated from their homes. I have, once again, conveyed my thanks to the local fire brigade and also the police, council officers and volunteers who worked together to help the residents who had to be rushed out of their homes. Thankfully there were no injuries but this is the third serious fire in Camberwell within the last year and I am greatly concerned about it…."
So nothing about the Leadership of the Labour Party. PoliticalBetting.com certainly think so and have promoted Ms Harman to the favourite position to launch a leadership bid.
As hour five began to dawned Sky News devlivered a statement from Chncellor, Alistair Darling MP, saying he will not be deflected from the business of government by calls for a leadership ballot.
"As far as I'm concerned we should be concentrating on the business of government and getting though the recession."
Minutes later, Alan Johnson, incumbent Labour Home Secretary, added his support to the Prime Minister saying:
"Gordon Brown is the best man to lead the Labour party. I respect Patricia and Geoff a great deal but I do not support their proposals."
As the working day came to close Cabinent Minsiter, Ed Miliband MP, warned Labour MPs against 'self indulgent navel gazing' and said he is sure his brother David would join him in backing the Prime Minister. This was followed by Justice Secretary, Jack Straw MP, joining the ranks of cabinet ministers defending Gordon Brown, insisting there is 'no issue' over Mr. Brown's leadership saying:
"I don't think there is an issue about the direction in which Gordon Brown and the cabinet and the government as a whole are seeking to lead the country."
Shortly before seven o'clock Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP, said:
"I am working closely with the prime minister on foreign policy issues and support the re-election campaign for a Labour government that he is leading."
Shortly before ten o'clock Labour MP Eric Joyce (Falkirk) wrote on his blog that:
"[T]oday’s most newsworthy detail was that two cabinet ministers created a flap in the pigeon coup, but turned out not to be foxes but chickens."
And finally, on BBC 1's News At Ten, Nick Robinson reported that six cabinet members were prepared to support a revolt against Gordon Brown's leadership 'under the right circumstancs'. Nick Robinson emphasised that he had not spoken to those he later named as Harriet Harman MP, David Miliband MP, Douglas Alexander MP, Bob Ainsworth MP, Jack Straw and Jim Murphy. David Jones MP, Conservative (Clwyd West), notes that
"Such an announcement on prime time TV will only increase the tensions already seething within the cabinet and make the Prime Minister look even weaker."
And asks, rightly:
"Has Gordon the bottle to enact his own Night of Long Knives? Somehow I doubt it."
Whether the SnowStorm Plot melts with the snow, or whether new developments, possibly tomorrow, keep the hopes, and the story, alive for those who would rather have a new leader for Labour, only time will tell.
I have just been speaking on the telephone to a Liberal Democrat member of West Lindsey District Council who has suggested to me that Cllr. Stuart Kinch, (Torksey Ward) has resigned as a member of the Conservative Group on West Lindsey District Council. Whilst this report remains unconfirmed if true it is serious.
Left: Cllr. Stuart Kinch.
Cllr. Kinch was elected as a Conservative in the local elections of 2003 and subsequently re-elected in 2007 with a modest majority of 305 votes. In March of this year Cllr. Kinch was elected as one of the Deputy Chairman of the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association. Cllr. Kinch was elected as a Conservative County Councillor in June 2009 for the Gainsborough Rural South Division of Lincolnshire County Council.
It is unknown at this time if such a resignation would be consequential to the planning application sought for land purchased with Cllr. Theobald who resigned last week as leader of the council, and has been suspended from the local Conservative Party, and the Audit Commission report into the planning department at West Lindsey District Council.
The Documents, available on the West Lindsey District Council website, for the extraordinary meeting taking place on Monday 14th December 2009, where only the appointment of committees is to be transacted shows the names of:
"Councillor Bernard Theobald"
and
"Councillor Stuart Kinch"
highlighted together with a
"Vacancy (Liberal Democrat)"
which presumably is the space made by the resignation of Peter Heath in November earlier in the year.
Cllr. Bernard Theobald (Wold View Ward) today announced his resignation as Leader of West Lindsey District Council.
Cllr. Theobald with David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, during a tour of regeneration work in Gainsborough. Between Mr. Cameron and Cllr. Theobald, in the rear, can be seen Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson.
In a statement Cllr. Theobald said:
"On Tuesday of this week a report appeared in the Lincolnshire Echo under the heading, 'Revealed: The Truth Behind Planning Outcry' claiming that a planning application submitted by me has resulted in an officer's suspension and investigation by the Audit Commission.
"This report is wholly unfounded and has been passed to my lawyers.
"However, I am of the opinion that the aspersions cast on my reputation and integrity in that report make my position as council leader untenable until these accusations can be properly revoked.
"This report not only harms me but I believe, serves to bring the council and my colleagues into disrepute.
"I have therefore, with the greatest regret, decided to stand down from my position of leader of the council whilst challenging the accuracy and facts in this newspaper report."
"There is unease in the council about the political situation. Some councillors are not happy with the style of his leadership.
"The resignation will help us get our house in order. The question is do we clean the house completely in terms of leadership and committee heads or let some remain?"
Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward), said:
"I think he has done the right thing to step aside while all these things are looked into."
Cllr. Lewis Strange, Conservative (Kelsey Ward), said:
"I think it is all very sad for everybody concerned. Cllr. Theobald did many great things for West Lindsey and I can not comment further until I see the outcome of the Audit Commission [Report]."
Cllr. Kristan Smith, Liberal Democrat (Gainsborough East Ward), has said:
"The crux of the matter is that the Leader has lost the confidence of the councillors, the public and the officers."
Former Labour County Councillor Mr. Phil Dilks said:
"I'm fairly certain that if Bernard Theobald were a Labour Leader forced out of office in similar circumstances, it would have been all over the Daily Mail and other choice publications by now."
Cllr. Theobald's membership of the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association has been suspended pending approval of the Association's Executive. It is understood that Deputy Leader of the Council Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), is expected to take the role of acting leader until the next full council meeting.
A resignation demand has been thrown down to the Conservative Leader of a West Lindsey District Council by his own deputy.
The Lincolnshire Echo are reporting that Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Adam Duguid, (Market Rasen Ward) says Cllr. Bernard Theobald's position is now ‘untenable’ following a series of ‘damaging allegations’. He added a change in leadership would allow the authority to move forward.
An investigation into allegations of fraud and mismanagement in the council's planning department is ongoing, plus the Audit Commission is conducting its own work. A draft report has been completed by the independent watchdog with the final version expected to be finished no later than Friday, 11th December 2009.
Cllr. Duguid is quoted as saying that he took no pleasure from asking the leader to resign.
"There have been damaging allegations made about Bernard and I feel itmakes his position untenable.
"Like all these things, they may or may not be true. I don't think he has done anything wrong. But this authority cannot move forward with this hanging around."
Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association Chairman, Dr. Stephen Beer said he supported Cllr. Duguid's actions and instructions had been issued to suspend Cllr. Theobald from the local party.
Speaking to the Lincolnshire Echo, Cllr. Theobald refused to comment on whether he would resign.
"I will make my announcement as and when I having something to say."
Liberal Democrat, Opposition Leader Cllr. Reg Shore (Stow Ward) said to the Rasen Mail:
"I wholeheartedly agree that Coun Theobald needs to resign, but not only as leader but also as a councillor; this is the only way that I feel the council can begin to repair itself.
"We will then make it our job to ensure there are no skeletons in the cupboard. We will review in order to assess whether or not there are other issues for consideration.
"This may take time but at the end of the process I am convinced that residents will be reassured by these checks"
A little while ago I signed a petition on the Number 10 website calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The petition simply read:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to resign."
The petition, instigated by Kalvis Jansons, closed on Thursday, 22nd October 2009. The petition received 72,234 signatures.
The government's response is:
"The Prime Minister is completely focussed on restoring the economy, getting people back to work and improving standards in public services. As the Prime Minister has consistently said, he is determined to build a stronger, fairer, better Britain for all."
Which in my view doesn't seem to be an answer to the petition. They could have included the line 'The Prime Minister is determined to continue to lead the government...' and then continue with the rest of the original response.
