Isle of Wight councillors tonight (Wednesday) decided who will be leading the council up to the next election (May 2025). It will remain an Alliance administration.
The former leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox (Alliance) nominated Councillor Phil Jordan (Alliance), seconded by Councillor Michael Lilley (LibDem). Councillor Paul Brading (Con) nominated Suzie Ellis (Con), seconded by Jarman. Councillor Ian Stephens (Alliance) asked for a named vote.
Councillor Brading explained why he believed Councillor Ellis should become leader of the council. He said she had showed clear leadership style since becoming leader of the Conservatives. He said the Conservatives believed the Alliance hasn’t made or tackled tough decisions quickly enough.
“We need a new aggressive administration, able to take difficult decisions and not just sit back.”
Councillor Clare Mosdell (Con) accused the Chair, Claire Critchison, of being flippant, when she said she didn’t want members to take up time and all say the same thing.
Both nominated members said they didn’t wish to speak and suggested moving to the vote. Despite this, some councillors felt the need to speak.
Councillor John Medland (Empowering Islanders) explained why he was going to vote Conservative.
“I believe we are close to a section 114 and this vote may be our last chance to save this council.
“I am very concerned with the continued insistence on the draft Island Plan. This is not what the Island needs.”
Councillor Tig Outlaw (Con) said he believed the administration had been failing. The one thing he said that has driven him to make a chance is the school place planning and lack of action over the past two years. He said it has sat on its hands. He said that his side of the chamber would ‘do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular’.
Councillor Vanessa Churchman (Con) said the original motion of no confidence was not about the leader, but lack of decision making of Alliance as a whole, she claims that very few major decision were made or implemented. She also claimed the council alienated Hampshire County Council, leader to the council ending the Children’s Services contract.
Councillor Chris Jarman (Empowering Islanders) said they can choose a leader who will take hard decisions.
Councillor Richard Quigley (Lab) referred back to Councillor Outlaw’s comments and explained that teachers first started their plea about school places in 2018, when previous Conservatives were in power.
Councillor Ian Ward (Con) thanked Councillor Peacey-Wilcox saying that she has done a very good job. However he said chances had been missed.
Councillor Andrew Garratt (LibDem) said when considering a leader they had to look at what the electorate wanted. In previous years, I found myself appalled by the actions of a Conservative administration, most of which was council tax support scheme from 75 to 65%.
Councillor Ian Dore (Alliance) said the previous Binstead councillor was allowed to live in Spain and nothing was done to deal with flooding in his ward, which since he was voted in. He asked councillors across the chamber to stop the bickering and give Councillor Jordan a chance and get on with the jobs they are paid an allowance to do.
Councillor Karl Love (Alliance) said they had all failed, 39 councillors should be pulling together with a single identity. He said sadly that it was party tribal politics.
“We were elected to represent the people, not a Conservative, Liberal, Labour, Alliance council, but the people’s council. Some people are not able to let go of party politics and doctrines.”
Councillor Lilley said things could change with a committee system, a project being worked on by Councillors Brodie and Garratt. He said he would be supporting Councillor Jordan, who he believed would support the committee system, giving a legacy for 2025 to a new elected set of councillors. Learning from the acrimony that is often seen in the chamber. He said he believed Councillor Jordan would bring consistency and an ability to tackle issues. He added that he was elected as a non-Conservative councillor. He said the Conservative councillors were part of a Party that was destroying the country.
Councillor Geoff Brodie (Ind Lab) said he thought the Alliance had never reached across the chamber. He said he had never abstained on a major vote and would vote for Councillor Jordan. He explained that, having spoken to Councillor Jordan about school places and housing, he was satisfied with the nominated leader’s response.
The vote
The named vote saw 19 members vote for Councillor Ellis and 19 votes for Councillor Jordan. Councillor Karl Love abstained.
The Chair used her casting vote for Councillor Jordan.
Councillor Phil Jordan becomes leader of the Isle of Wight council.
