We were contacted by Adrian Nicholas, who was originally to be the Conservative candidate of choice for the Mount Joy ward in Newport, left vacant by the resignation of Melanie Swan.
You may have seen a few letters on the County Press letter page recently. Well, Adrian was rightly frustrated because the County Press had decided to censor his right to reply and not publish his letter.
From what we’ve heard from Adrian, he’s rightly confused about his on/off position as a candidate for Mount Joy.
He tells us that David Pugh invited him to County Hall and asked him to run as the Conservative candidate.
Mount Joy, personally handled by David Pugh
Near the end of the letter Adrian brings out that at their meeting on Tuesday last week, Cllr Humber stated that “the forthcoming Mount Joy by-election was to be handled personally by David Pugh.”
Clearly as Adrian was dropped, Mr Pugh must have had a significant change of mind – not one that he directly communicated to Adrian.
A reason?
Adrian has written to Donaleen Ratcliff, Chair of the IWCA, to ask her why he had been judged as unsuitable as a Conservative candidate in any future Newport elections.
It appears that Ms Ratcliff is less than forthcoming in this department, instead sending him a terse note with no details.
Adrian’s view is that, “neither the IWCA or David Pugh has any regard whatsoever for considerations made at branch level or care for the sentiments of branch members.”
He went on to say, “I believe all we are here for is to be used at your convenience to distribute leaflets and to do as are told.”
What this will mean for those hoping to gain power, will become clear in the results from the election.
Voting is tomorrow.
If you’ve had the same experience of your letter not being published in the CP letters page and want an outlet to air your views, get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.
