Earlier today the leader of the group of Isle of Wight Conservative councillors announced she’d submitted a vote of no confidence motion in the current independent leader of the Isle of Wight council, Lora Peacey-Wilcox.
Councillor Peacey-Wilcox has been leader of the council since the May 2021 local elections and heads up the Alliance group, which includes independents as well as two Green Party councillors.
Why?
Councillor Suzie Ellis of the Conservative group told News OnTheWight that she planned to go into more detail in mid-September as why this is being proposed but that it’s about “the need for the Council to have leadership which is prepared to make the right decisions in a timely manner”.
In response to the news, the Empowering Islanders group announced their solidarity with the motion, confirming they would be voting in favour of a change of leadership at the council from independent to Conservative.
However, other councillors have spoken out against the motion.
Garratt: No credible reason for a Conservative leader
Councillor Andrew Garratt (LibDem) told News OnTheWight,
“We see no credible reason why the Liberal Democrats should prefer a Conservative council leader instead of Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox.
“Many of the previous Conservative administration are still on the council. That administration, in tandem with a Conservative government, led to cuts across many vital services. A particularly harsh example was their cut to help for low-income families when they slashed council tax support.
“I’ve urged Cllr Ellis not to wait until mid-September to elaborate on her plans for a Conservative administration. Setting those out now would allow Islanders to consider the implications and let their councillors know what they think about changing council leadership.”
Quigley: The council needs stability, not political turmoil to satisfy egos
Councillor Richard Quigley (Labour) told News OnTheWight,
“I don’t blame the Tories for continually going against the will of the electorate, they are desperate for power, despite not having any ideas on how to improve the Island, as evidenced in their last administration and by our MP.
“It doesn’t seem like particularly good timing, with an organisational review underway and Hampshire handing back the children’s services contract, the council needs stability, not political turmoil to satisfy egos.
“The current administration is far from perfect, but it is what the people of the Island voted for. Islanders roundly rejected the Conservatives in 2021.
“I’ll continue to work on the issues that matter to our residents and leave the theatrics to the Island Conservatives.”
A spokesperson for the Alliance group say school closure plans are at the heart of a motion and that the Conservatives want to pursue school closures, suggesting nine could shut under their plans.
“Will-they-won’t-they” votes of no confidence creating unnecessary instability and uncertainty
Green Party councillors who are part of the Alliance group, Joe Lever and Claire Critchison, told News OnTheWight,
“The Alliance has ensured that the Isle of Wight council is in a solid position at a very unstable time and steered it through the last two turbulent years. To upset that now would not be in the best interest of residents.
“Only last month the Conservatives decided they didn’t want to oust the Alliance. Now they’ve decided they do. These “will-they-won’t-they” votes of no confidence are simply creating unnecessary instability and uncertainty within the council at a time when we really can’t afford the distractions.
“We wish the Tories and their “empowering egos” allies would stop the political games and put their efforts into being an effective group of councillors instead. The Island and the Council needs and deserves much better right now.
“The Alliance of Independents and Greens was put in place by true cross-party support for the good of the island and, as Greens, we will continue putting our residents first for as long we can.”
Jordan: Sounds more like a personal vendetta
Councillor Phil Jordan (Alliance group) told News OnTheWight,
“I am dismayed by the latest motion of no confidence in the Leader. The Conservatives do not have enough numbers to win this vote so I can only assume, once again, that the Empowering Island group, three of whom are Independent Councillors, are seemingly prepared to vote to return Conservatives to run the Council again.
“This is not how the Island voted in 2021 and their support for the Conservative group is utterly baffling and without merit.
“This does sound more like a personal vendetta than consideration for Island residents who, frankly, deserve better than this skullduggery.”
Brodie: I will never vote for a Conservative leader
Councillor Geoff Brodie (Ind Labour) told News OnTheWight,
“The current Council leadership has not had my confidence for some time. I realised very quickly two years ago that the Alliance would never work well, with some of its members being so opposed to things important to me and (to be fair) others in the group, such as affordable housing for rent. So I left.
“Most of those have now left the Alliance and if the Alliance can come up with a stronger leader than currently then they will get my support. If it is just to be more of the same then I will abstain on this motion as I will never vote for a Conservative leader.
“Unlike some independents I respect my voters who five times have comfortably supported me against a Conservative candidate. Not to do so would be entirely shameful.
“We now need a new Council leadership that knows what needs to be done and will get it done without prevaricating. A leadership with values that aren’t Conservative. This may be the time for the Alliance to act positively, rather than defensively.”
Article edit
5.05pm 22nd Aug 2023 – Comment from Green Party members added
8.05pm 23rd Aug 2023 – Comment from PJ and GB added
