Playing both sides

Some Tories suggest this newspaper is “anti-Tory”. We’re not, and to make that point, on July 21 we welcomed the election of Suzie Ellis, their new council group leader, with a positive front-page story. She said she would work with other councillors, put the Island and Islanders first and end the bickering at County Hall. Just one month later she tabled a motion of no confidence in council leader, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox.

We were contacted by a number of people who told us that Cllr Ellis had been talking to both the Liberal Democrats and the Alliance about joining them. It became apparent that she had not told either side that she was speaking to the other. On August 25 we reported that she had taken part in those talks. Cllr Ellis did not contact us about our report, but told her group that that it was untrue. Some of them told us about it.

Last week we asked Cllr Ellis whether she disputed what we had reported. She replied: “I have not been in negotiations about joining either the Alliance or the Liberal Democrats group.”

We checked and were told more about her meeting with the Liberal Democrats. It took place when Cllr Ellis was planning to ditch the Tories. As she was working in the Conservative Association office she was looking for another job. Somewhat surprisingly, the meeting at which she discussed her defection was both organised and attended by former council leader, David Pugh, now chairman of the IW Conservative Association.

At least one member of the Tory group also believes David Pugh is writing much of her correspondence, pointing out that former Tory group leader, Steve Hastings, who resigned from the council in October 2022, admitted in July 2021 that a letter which went out in his name to Cllr Peacey-Wilcox had been drafted by David Pugh.

We put these points to Cllr Ellis and David Pugh yesterday; neither commented.

If Cllr Ellis wants to dispute our story, we invite her to go to our regulator, IMPRESS. It will cost her nothing, and we can supply to them all the evidence we have that backs up our story. IMPRESS can both fine the IW Observer and instruct us to print an apology if they find we have not followed their Standards Code.

We are not “anti-Tory”, there are some very good ones on the IW Council, but the IW Observer is in favour of straight-talking politicians.

Cllr Ellis might reflect that being caught out trying to play both sides leaves you with few friends.