Dave Stewart the leader of the Isle of Wight Conservative councillors shares this latest release. Ed
Conservative Council Group Leader, Dave Stewart, has warned that the recent decision of almost every one of the Island Independent councillors on the Isle of Wight Council to sign the ‘Councillors Against Austerity pledge’ is a ‘hugely political act’ and belies their claims that they are a non-political group.
The national pledge is organised by the hard left group, People’s Assembly Against Austerity, which states that there is no need for any cuts in public spending, either for national or local government; wants nationalisation of banks, transport companies and other privately owned services and political control of interest rates.
All but one Indie councillor signed up
The pledge has been championed on the Island by Labour’s Geoff Lumley and Council Leader, Jonathan Bacon.
All members of the ruling administration of the Isle of Wight Council have now apparently signed up to support the pledge, with the exception of Cowes Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox.
A hugely political act
Councillor Stewart, who has just been re elected as the Island’s Conservative Group Leader for the forthcoming year, said:
“Geoff Lumley and I have different ideological backgrounds – he is proudly ‘Old Labour’ and openly supported socialist Jeremy Corbyn during Labour’s leadership campaign. I may disagree with him, but I can respect that he is open and honest about his beliefs.
“However, for the so-called Independent Council Leader to be promoting this pledge, and for almost every member of the controlling group to have signed it is a hugely political act.”
Voters “did not expect a hard left administration”
He went on to say,
“The current leadership of the Council has now exposed itself as left wing and ideologically opposed to all cuts in public expenditure. The many Islanders who voted Independent in the council elections in 2013 did not expect a hard left administration – yet those of us who sit in County Hall know that is what we have got.
“Every poor decision they make is blamed on the Conservative Government – it’s like a broken record. We’re waiting with bated breath for them to blame the Prime Minister for ordering the wrong sized bins for the Island waste contract! They try to cover their mis-management of the Island by claiming everything is down to cuts in their budget.”
“Deception”
Cllr Stewart added,
“The deception of the Island Independents is now clear. Island Conservatives accept that the country needs to live within its means, but believe that the Island has a unique case – that we must put forward.
“Thanks to our work with the Island’s MP, Andrew Turner the Government has already accepted that we are unique and rather than play gesture politics about signing national petitions, we will get on and put forward our case.
“We also have assurances from the County Press that the Fight for the Wight Campaign is not about ‘Government bashing’, but a measured and balanced attempt to help make that case. On that basis we are working productively with them to ensure that the Government continue to engage on the issues and will take the message to the Secretary of State Greg Clarke when he visits the Island.”
Challenge to councillors
He finished by saying,
“I challenge those councillors who stood honestly as Independents, and have been misled into signing this ‘Anti – Austerity Pledge’ to publicly withdraw their support. If they do not then we will be highlighting their deception and the many failings of their administration over the coming months.
“Instead of trying to balance the books and work cross party for the good of the Island.
“I have expressed my support for the ‘fight for the wight’ campaign on the basis of working with government to seek a better funding agreement for the Island due to our unique case – so getting into an anti austerity conflict argument is not in my view the right way forward.”
