The acting Leader of the Conservative Group of councillors, Paul Brading (pictured left), has accused the Leader of the Isle of Wight council, Phil Jordan (pictured right), of misquoting the former-Conservative Leader in relation to discussions about Cabinet positions and fabricating the timeline of events – something Councillor Jordan strongly refutes.
Earlier this week Councillor Jordan — who was elected Isle of Wight council leader on 20th September — announced his plan for cross-chamber working. He explained that he invited opposition councillors to work with Cabinet Members on four portfolios, offering positions on ‘cabinet support teams’ or ‘advisory groups’.
Contacted group leaders
Councillor Jordan reported that his first action as IWC Leader was to contact other group leaders to discuss the potential for offering cabinet roles to non-Alliance councillors and that following a conversation with the then-Conservative leader, Councillor Suzie Ellis, “it became clear that regretfully, the Conservatives could not accept roles under their local constitution”.
Brading challenges timeline
However, Councillor Paul Brading claims that the conversation around potential Cabinet positions between Councillors Jordan and Ellis took place before the Full Council meeting on 20th September.
He also claims the two have not spoken since apart from an email message from the council leader wishing Councillor Ellis well when she announced she was taking a short break.
Councillor Jordan refutes this also, saying to News OnTheWight,
“How would he know?”
Councillor Brading told News OnTheWight,
“At the meeting before the 20th, Suzie explained to Phil that under Conservative rules it would be very difficult, but not completely impossible, for a Conservative Councillor to accept a Cabinet post in a non-Conservative Administration, but would need full Group approval, as well as full approval of the Local IWCA, now under new Chairmanship.
“If offered a position, and by accepting it would benefit the Island, we would have been happy to investigated this option further.”
Call records requested to prove otherwise
Councillor Jordan told News OnTheWight that he has spoken to Councillor Ellis more than once since becoming leader.
He also said he has requested call records from his phone company in order to prove that communication between himself and Councillor Ellis took place.
Take-up of ‘Cabinet support teams’ or ‘advisory groups’
Councillor Brading told News OnTheWight he didn’t feel the offer of positions on ‘cabinet support teams’ or ‘advisory groups’ constituted the spirit of true cross-chamber working.
However, others councillors appear to feel differently. Councillor Jordan told News OnTheWight that Councillors Geoff Brodie (Ind Lab) and Richard Quigley (Lab) have both agreed to be involved, as well as the Liberal Democrat councillors. Earlier today Councillor Chris Jarman from the Empowering Islanders Group also confirmed he would be willing to work with Councillor Ian Stephens on the upcoming budget.
Councillor Jordan said that as far as he knew, no Conservative councillors had agreed to get involved with the ‘cabinet support teams’ or ‘advisory groups’.
