By Carole Dennett
by Carole Dennett
The IW Observer reported on our front page five weeks ago (July 21) that the new leader of the IW Council Conservative group, Suzie Ellis, wanted to work cross-party, “with the primary objective being what is best for the Island and its residents.”
Cllr Ellis had refused to support a motion of no confidence in council leader, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, put forward by EI group leader, Cllr Chris Jarman, claiming her group was “united” in support of her approach. She told the IW Observer that Cllr Jarman was “a bully” who had tried to intimidate her and said to Cllr Richard Quigley that Cllr Jarman should not be allowed anywhere near power and she would not work with him under any circumstances, and another councillor that he reminded her of a ‘snake in the grass’.
Whilst welcoming the new collaborative approach from Cllr Ellis, we cautiously said, “As always, time will tell.” However, we didn’t expect Cllr Ellis and her group to execute a complete U-turn in less than five weeks. On Tuesday, Conservatives submitted their own motion of no confidence in Cllr Peacey-Wilcox for the council meeting in September. If it succeeds (it is supported by the Conservatives and EI group), Cllr Ellis will become IW Council leader.
How this power grab puts “the Island and its residents” first is a mystery, as the Conservatives will not say anything more about their plans until September 12. However, Alliance members believe it relates to the recent handling of education issues. The Alliance have apologised for mistakes, but Cllr Ellis refused to comment on her own party’s record on education, which includes being slammed by Ofsted, ordered to hand education management to Hampshire, and the Island languishing at the bottom of exam results tables.
Cllrs Ellis and Jarman issued a joint statement yesterday claiming they were building a “majority coalition to provide a stable administration,” but they have not consulted other groups.
Ellis is two-faced say Alliance
Members of the current coalition were scathing. A LibDem spokesman said: “The previous Conservative administration and a Conservative government led to cuts across vital services including slashing council tax support for low-income families.
“Cllr Ellis should not wait until mid-September to elaborate on her plans. Setting them out now would allow Islanders to let their councillors know what they think about them.”
Labour’s response was: “The desire for power is the only driving force for Island Conservatives. Many structural issues with the council and its finances can be traced back to their administration. They didn’t tackle the housing crisis and the schools have never recovered from their botched reorganisation under David Pugh. The current administration is far from perfect, but political turmoil created to feed egos isn’t best for the Island.”
A Green Party spokesman was succinct: “We were not consulted and would never enter an alliance with Island Conservatives.”
An Alliance statement said: “The silence from the Conservatives is unhelpful. As far as we can ascertain they are intent on closing up to nine schools and pursuing the government’s union with Hampshire County Council through devolution, which we firmly oppose.
“Councillor Ellis, her party, and the Island could end up being led by Cllr Jarman’s group of disaffected Nimbys. She has lost the backbone she seemed to have and grown a second face to replace it.”
‘Dissenting views’ are ‘distractions’
Such criticism is of no interest to Cllrs Ellis and Jarman; their statement said: “There will always be those who would rather amplify and exploit past matters in order to frustrate positive transformational and democratic change and the benefits it can afford.
“Dissenting views and historical references are merely distractions that need to be set aside whilst those determined to move forward unite and deliver for our Island in these difficult times.” There was no explanation of what the ‘benefits’ would be.
Tory leader wanted to dump the party
If Conservatives want to seek their own ‘snake in the grass’, they don’t have to look far. Cllr Ellis has been in talks with both the Alliance and the Liberal Democrats with a view to ditching the Tories and joining them – something she has failed to disclose to many in her group.
Sadly, it seems it’s back to business as usual at the Isle of Wight Council.