Peter Spink, Isle of Wight councillor for Freshwater North and Yarmouth, has resigned from the Isle of Wight Conservative Group of councillors.
His decision relates to comments made at the last Planning Committee, when fellow Conservative councillor, Matthew Price, called for the voting records of committee members to be shared.
Cllr Price accused some members of the planning committee of being populist. Cllr Spink argued he didn’t vote just to be popular and considered any plan to interrogate people’s voting history ‘a check to undermine the integrity of those who voted a certain way’.
Conservative group drops to 16 members
It’s understood that Cllr Spink intends to serve as an ‘Independent Conservative’ councillor for the remainder of his term.
This leaves the Conservative group of councillors with 16 members. Cllr Steve Hastings left the group in October last year and his seat was filled by Liberal Democrat, Nick Stuart.
Robertson: I declined to intervene
Cllr Joe Robertson, leader of the Isle of Wight Conservative Group of councillors, told News OnTheWight,
“Peter took exception to comments made by Matt Price at Planning Committee on 25th April about the voting record of some councillors.
“He wanted me to intervene and when I declined he decided to leave the Conservative Group.
“Peter and I remain on good terms and I look forward to continuing to work with him on the many issues on which we agree.”
Quigley: Robertson seems to imply he’s glad to see the back of Cllr Spink
Cllr Richard Quigley, Labour councillor for Cowes North, told News OnTheWight,
“In the absence of local elections here, it appears the Isle of Wight Conservative party is feeling left out of the national picture of disastrous results, so have decided to reduce their number themselves.
“Cllr Robertson seems to imply he’s glad to see the back of Cllr Spink. Probably because his answer to the housing crisis is to build less houses.
“Maybe now, I can encourage the remaining Tories to do some good for the Island and help provide Islanders with their own front door.”
News OnTheWight has contacted Cllr Spink, and other group leaders, for comment and will update once we hear back from them.
Spink: ‘Independent Conservative’
Cllr Spink chose to ignore some of questions asked and instead replied,
“I confirm that I have resigned from the Conservative Group. I am still, however, a member of the Conservative Party and feel that I can better represent the residents of Freshwater North and Yarmouth as an ‘Independent Conservative’.”
Article edit
2.25pm 5th May 2023 – Comment from PS added
Image: Lucas Raggers under CC BY 2.0
