Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council and former Lib Dem turned Independent councillor, Charles Chapman, will stand in May’s elections as a Conservative councillor, it has been announced.
Speaking today, Councillor Chapman has said:
“I started this Council as a member of the Island Independents but found it increasingly hard to support a ruling group that had little in common to bind them and which wasted the first year on investigating the likelihood of delivering aspirational policies contained in their manifesto, A Framework for Change.
Article continues below this advertisement “As we know the aspirations were short lived and soon cracks began to appear that led to the sacking of members and blame and diversion that has continued within the Independent Group throughout this council. The Independent Leader and Deputy Leader resigned from office two months before the 2017 Budget leaving a Conservative led cross party group to take the council forward with a working budget.
“I believe this Island needs strong leadership based on support and consensus of all members with a ruling group willing to take responsibility and work cross party, serving the best interests of our Island community.
“After Chairing this council for 2 years I believe the Island Conservative Group are the best placed group to take control and responsibility of The Isle of Wight Council and I will be joining the Conservatives at the coming election standing as their candidate in my current ward of Ryde South.
“I hope local residents will continue to support me as their candidate on May 4th.
Council Leader and Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Dave Stewart, added:
“We extend a very warm welcome to Councillor Chapman. An elected Member of his vast experience will be a great asset to the Conservative team. He is hardworking, dedicated and widely respected by his local residents and colleagues across the Council chamber.”
