Independent Councillor Geoff Brodie has hit back at claims he acted aggressively during Isle of Wight Council meetings last month, saying he is ‘tired of being accused of bullying’.
It was back in October – as previously reported by Island Echo – that Reform Councillor Caroline Gladwin alleged that Cllr Brodie’s conduct during the Planning Committee and Full Council meetings on 30th September and 1st October was aggressive, bullying, and designed to provoke distress. She claimed she was reduced to tears and forced to leave the chamber on both occasions.
In the aftermath, Cllr Gladwin reported Cllr Brodie to Police and called for his immediate resignation, citing a ‘toxic’ culture.
At the time the article was published, Cllr Brodie was in Italy and so it is only now that he has been able to issue a statement on the accusations.
Following on from the accusations, Cllr Brodie has now said:
“Sadly calling out of racism on this Council is not allowed, whether at the recent Full Council or back in the past.
“Upon my return from a long-planned, 2 and half week holiday in Italy, (and 2 weeks later) I can find no notification from the Monitoring Officer of any complaints against me.
“In 20+ years as a member of this Council there has been one complaint against me upheld by the various Monitoring Officers. That was in 2015 and I apologised to the then male Chairman for what I had said. Any other complaints have been easily seen off.
Article continues below this advertisement “I am getting tired of being accused of bullying by a very few women councillors when they don’t pull the wool over my eyes. Whether it comes from a female or male I will always stand up against what I see as being wrong.”
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that some comments made during council business were brought to their attention, but because no criminal offences had been committed no further action was taken.
Tired of being accused of bullying?
theres apattern there then,obviously means you are,you need to go,you are not fit to be a councillor,resign if you have any decency,oh wait,you havent.
You have a certain reputation Cllr Brodie. No doubt certain women play on this, and words like ‘toxic’ are unhelpful.
This council ought to have been renewed last May, and by now it is split into factions with poor co-operation.
However, every councillor signed up for it and owe it to the electorate to bite their tongue and maintain respect and professionalism. If they can’t manage that, then they ought to step away.
Let us hope this government do not find a way to delay the elections yet again.
We are supposed to be living in a democratic country
so elections should go ahead.
Do the right thing Brodie. Stand down and crawl back under your lefty stone, The cancelled elections were because most of you will be ousted. He needs to learn than just because another councillor doesn’t share your politics, it doesn’t make them a racist.
A decent man would resign with your stupidity values & common views, no class whatsoever please go you are an embarrassment to the Council.
If you’re tired of the bullying accusations, stop bullying! The fact that the Monitoring Officers have only upheld one complaint, also shows a level of incompetence on their part, which was highlighted in the recent independent report. It is simply unacceptable to call someone racist because of their political persuasion. If Brodie had any decency, morals or professionalism, he would have resigned years ago when he was publicly bullying other female Councillors.