The Conservative group leader says talks have been taking place amidst calls for a coalition cabinet — where Councillors from multiple groups would hold senior positions – which could result in a big change at the top.
Throwing his hat into the ring, Councillor Joe Robertson, the Conservative group leader, confirmed discussions are underway with Empowering Islanders (EI) and other councillors.
In recent weeks, the ruling Alliance administration’s cabinet has shrunk by 2 members — 1 quit and another wasn’t allowed to keep his position after he left the group — leading to a reshuffle of responsibilities.
The authority is currently run by Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, with 7 cabinet members.
Cllr Robertson said he has always said if he were to become leader he would seek to appoint a coalition cabinet.
He said:
“Councillors do not need to be in the same political group as me to be in a cabinet led by me. I am confident there are very able and willing councillors from outside the Conservative Group who would serve in a coalition cabinet, so I would be able to deliver on that promise.”
Cllr Robertson joined calls from EI to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Isle of Wight Council, to determine if members had confidence in the authority’s current leaders. If not, a new leader and deputy leader would be sought and a potential new coalition cabinet established.
EI said a new leadership would provide financial and regulatory stability and would embrace all those across the chamber with experience. It said the current administration is attempting to run the council in an ‘increasingly fragile mode’ while rejecting talent from other parties and ‘piling responsibilities onto a few members who were already significantly overburdened’.
Cllr Roberston said the situation was ‘plainly untenable’ and ‘it was bad for the Authority and bad for the Island’.
The Alliance has lost 4 Councillors in the last month and is now the 2nd largest group on the Authority with 13 members.
Councillor Chris Jarman, EI group leader and ex-cabinet member, said there was a lot of support for the cross-party working together and it had been an objective of the group when it started.
This is the news I’ve been waiting for. Joebob as we call him at the club, would make a great leader. Why the proles think they have the right to lead I will never understand. Power should be held in the hands of those with the most money and property. Leading is our right.
You are demented, get help
Think you find it’s those that with the fattest mouths and insatiable greed wins. Step on everyone to get what they want sounds very much like you’re in the top 10 in that bracket. Just be careful and that bracket will brake very very soon.!
This would be funny if it wasn’t true…
Call it what you like !!!!
Alliance/coalition….
All you need to do is work together for the benefit of the island/islanders…
Stop the bickering and resolve any issues like adults….
To gain respect you have earn it …..
Open and honest !!!!!??????….
Get rid of councillr Bacon and Robertson they are both useless
Who needs any of them, a total waste of money.
Change of leadership !! The Island would be better off without the current IWC .. vote in competent councillors, who work for the benefit of the island and not for themselves & their chums .
Never understood why as Council Tax payers we pay for Officers in Housing, Planning, Highways, Environmental, Education , Adult and Children Social Care all of which are trained, Experienced and qualified in what they do . Then we have a load of uneducated and not qualified bunch at huge cost making decisions, often overruling those that know best just because they can. They seem to have no interest in the Isle of Wight everyday folk and just want retired rich people living here. Business rates and ferry cost driving everything away from the Island.
So it’s a power grab…. and Robertson thinks there is no one better to lead the council than himself.
Meanwhile the “Empowering Islanders” group turn out to be the “Empowering themselves” group as they decide to support the tories in return for cabinet posts.
Nothing to do with Cabinet members receiving twice the cash that ordinary councillors do. Purely a coincidence.
So the tory on the island wants to take control, when his party has made us all bankrupt? And surely that would need a vote, you idiot Joe Robertson
Will they ever be able to agree on anything. This is the milion dollar question? All they will be good at is ‘bickering’
Political people are only the same as you and I, except they are pushier and with too much to say. None of them have any ACTUAL qualifications for the job! I think there should be mandatory IQ and psychological test’s to qualify to become ANYTHING in public office… Anyone with less than 130 and psychopathic tendencies need not apply…
By setting a minimum IQ requirement of 130, you are deliberately excluding all caulkheads. Good plan for getting the overners back in charge. I am all for it, although I do have pyschopathic tendencies.
Does make you wonder if local councils should be run by one main political party, surely they are in post to represent the constituents and should be non political – in turn the elected MP for that area should also attend or send their representative to Council Meetings to back up there actions in HoP when the elected MP fights for his county. That would be an interesting outcome, someone who fights for their county.