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Richard Priest

Richard Priest was elected in the 2013 Isle of Wight council elections and joined the group of Island Independent councillors.

He was Independent executive member for Children’s services. However, he was sacked from the post by Ian Stephens in September 2014 and then left the Island Independents.

He became Executive member Adult social care and public health in January 2017 under the leadership of Conservative, Dave Stewart.

22, January 2016·3 min read

Letter: How can your councillor represent you if they leave meetings early?

During Wednesday's full council meeting, several councillors upped and left before the end of the meeting, missing an important vote on how the council handles applications for fracking on the Isle of Wight. One reader was disgusted enough at their actions that she's shared the letter she sent them the next day.

Political Scrapbook - David Pugh Trailer -:

18, December 2014·2 min read

David Pugh: ‘Overheard discussing sensitive party matters’ on packed train claims report

A general rule in life is, if you don't want others to know, don't discuss it in public. Certainly don't do it loudly on a busy train heading back to where you live.

17, October 2014·2 min read

Cllr Julia Baker-Smith voted as chair of the planning committee

The vote was incredibly close with Independent councillor, Julia Baker Smith, winning by just one vote.

15, October 2014·2 min read

Head of legal advised Cllrs Priest and Gilbey to stay away from funding paper, but they didn’t

A leaked set of email exchanges in front of all IWC councillors asks why Cllr Gilbey and Priest involved themselves at all with the Rush Close controversy after Head of Legal had advised not to. The chair of Scrutiny questions the extent of their 'acquaintanceships'.

3, October 2014·5 min read

Facts and truth ‘distorted out of all recognition’ claims Cllr Stubbings

Details that first appeared as comments with OnTheWight, were, for the first time, heard in the council chamber last night. Cllr Stubbings laid out in detail his sequence of events, "to put the record straight in the public arena".

21, September 2014·3 min read

Cllr Charles Chapman’s resignation: The actual emails and timings

There's been a lot of speculation as to what has and hasn't happened over Cllr Charles Chapman's resignation from the Island Independents. OnTheWight has brought together all of the actual emails and has discovered Cllr Chapman's view on joining the Conservatives.

19, September 2014·1 min read

Following the sacking of Cllr Richard Priest from the Isle of Wight council Executive this week and Cllr Jon Gilbey's subsequent claims of being dismissed from the Independent Group (a claim refuted by the leader yesterday), there is a further twist in the story today.

11, September 2014·4 min read

The Priest / Gilbey email and where it’s incorrect

Here are the full contents of the Priest/Gilbey email circulated this morning - and a breakdown of how its allegations don't stand up, exposing a basic misunderstanding of what has happened.

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