Reform UK councillor Caroline Gladwin has reported fellow Isle of Wight councillor Geoff Brodie to Police – and is calling for his immediate resignation – over alleged bullying at council meetings.
Cllr Gladwin has 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 says she was reduced to tears and forced to leave the chamber on both occasions.
It is claimed that similar complaints about Cllr Brodie’s behaviour have been raised over the years, especially by female and independent councillors, but that minimal sanctions have allowed the conduct to continue.
During the Planning Committee meeting, Cllr Brodie reportedly accused Cllr Gladwin of wrongdoing in relation to her declaration of interests. However, the Monitoring Officer confirmed to him and to the meeting that no breach had taken place. Despite this clarification, it is claimed Cllr Brodie continued his line of attack, leaving Cllr Gladwin distraught and resulting in the meeting being suspended.
The following day, at Full Council, Cllr Brodie allegedly launched further verbal attacks – this time aimed at both Cllr Gladwin and Independent Councillor Dave Adams. He reportedly referred to Reform UK as ‘racist’ and a ‘threat to democracy”, and called Cllr Adams a ‘fascist pig’.
When Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, Clouncillor Ian Dore, attempted to intervene, Cllr Brodie allegedly labelled him a racist too, leading to the second suspension of a council meeting in as many days.
Cllr Gladwin has claimed the incidents disrupted important council business and that the behaviour reflects a broader pattern over more than a decade, particularly targeting women and independents. She said that if Cllr Brodie were a council employee, his conduct would have resulted in dismissal.
Cllr Gladwin added:
“The council cannot move forward while this toxic culture persists.
“There must be real consequences for abusive behaviour. I urge Cllr Brodie to step down and call on others to support this demand for a more civilised and respectful council environment.”
At the time of writing, no public statement has been issued by Cllr Geoff Brodie. He has been approached for a statement, but is said to be away.
good – about time brodie was brought to heel
This Brodie character sounds like an absolute idiot, an antagonist. He probably goes home of an evening and tells his partner all about conquests that day. Makes him feel important.
Of course I’ve seen his name many times in the local news but never really been interested. Googling him, it seems I’ve missed so much! He’s been an idiot for years.
And there was I wasting time watching drama on TV when there is a full on spectacle right under my nose. I shall make it my mission to read all about this fool. It’s certainly entertaining.
As for Caroline from Reform going to the police I am astounded. I thought Reform were all about change and straightening out the politically correct mess that has grown over the last 20 years. Get a grip.
Just tell the bloke to go away, he obviously suffers some kind of personality disorder. The police won’t do anything, it’s therapy he needs by the look of things.
Unfortunately, about the time he decided to change his name he seemed to lose the plot… Needs to go…
Well from this article it would appear councillor Brody is not a particularly nice person. A rather small man it would seem, over compensating for some inadequacies towards women it would appear?
Frankly there is no place in council for someone who has that little respect for women, its not a gentlemanly to behave. Neither of course is repeating false allegations after they have been debunked.
Perhaps on the next ballot paper he should change from Independent socialist to independent chauvinist?
I think I heard him say he was not going to be standing again.
A fascist reporting bullying? Pot, kettle, black hun.
I’d be interested if you could please explain why you think she is a fascist? Words like this are thrown about so frequently these days so I hope you don’t mind me asking for you to be specific?
I think the Reform Party shows some really worrying far right and authoritarian traits that remind me of fascism, even if it doesn’t call itself that. A lot of its messaging focuses on nationalism, blaming immigrants and minorities for wider problems, and painting the country as being “under threat” from outsiders or liberal elites. That kind of “us versus them” way of talking is typical of fascist movements.
They also push this anti establishment image while promoting a very strong leader style of politics, where any disagreement or nuance is seen as weakness or betrayal. Their stance on immigration, multiculturalism and what it means to be “British” often goes beyond fair debate and into intolerance and division.
Fascism isn’t just about dictatorship or violence, it’s about an attitude that rejects diversity, attacks the media and democratic systems, and turns people against each other. In that sense, Reform UK’s anger driven nationalism and anti immigrant tone have a lot in common with older and modern far right movements.
Reform UK’s style of politics also leans towards authoritarianism — strong leader mentality, dismissing critics, and undermining trust in democratic institutions. That might sound appealing to some in the short term, but it’s the kind of attitude that damages democracy in the long run.
So for me, voting for them isn’t a protest, it’s a step towards a more divided, less fair, and less free country.
Well, we certainly know where you stand Lizzie.
If I might just reply, it is my view that being alarmed and against immigration is NOT always about the people. It is not necessarily racist. It is about being against a government policy that is ill thought out and, frankly, unaffordable.
We see people protesting saying they cannot get a home, or a school place, or a dentist, or a GP, that we are sinking into a morass of over taxation and debt. That we see asylum seekers being prioritised and local people being left behind . That is not about race, it is about numbers .
Please don’t be so quick with the condemning language.
Ok Isabel, go ahead and vote for Reform. Just remember they want to defund the NHS…..I implore you to educate yourself on their entire manifesto and not just ‘SMALL BOATS’.
Thanks Lizzie, AI couldn’t have put it better….;)
I certainly discriminate against immigrants illegal or legal who erode our culture and cultural values. I also discriminate against those who break our laws – I believe they should be treated far more harshly. In the case of immigrants, deportation should be mandatory for certain crimes. I also believe the indigenous population should be held to account in terms of the law – far too often we see these crazy suspended sentences when dangerous individuals are left to roam amongst us.
If only people could come here and integrate rather than create a home from home. Because let’s face it, most of them are fleeing a home that is barbaric by our standards. That’s not to say that injecting a flavour of other cultures is a bad thing but that’s not what’s happening is it?
I don’t think immigrants are responsible for all our troubles, some of them certainly cause issues but that doesn’t mean they should all be tarred with the same brush. I grew up in Tooting in London and lived in a functional multicultural environment for some years. It’s only the modern multiculturalism I take issue with because it isn’t really “multi” at all, it’s who shouts loudest dominates.
OH! I also believe people coming here should have a set period of time to learn the language and adopt it when in the wider society.
Mistrust of the establishment has been around forever, it’s just the changes in how we all communicate that have allowed it to grow and become more widespread. I do hate hearing about how “the elites” are running the world and how we are all just expendable but then there are instances where “elites” for want of a better word have proved to be wronguns – there is a very long list.
I don’t consider myself to be left or right, I’m just me but I would observe that the widening division between the two sides has given rise to frequent use of terms like Fascism and Far Right.
I expect you’ll be calling me far right and focus on that rather than offering up a solution to where we are today. You’re right about the confrontational politics but it works both ways, takes two to tango. Personally I think our politicians conduct themselves appallingly and I long for the good old days of reasoned debate.
Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to answer my question.
Firstly, I am not AI, I am autistic and this is the way I write.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by ‘erode our culture’, do you mean because they introduce new music, fashion, food and customs that they are ‘eroding’ our nation? And when you say ‘indigenous population’ I assume you mean The Pagans and Celts? Or do you mean the ‘modern indigenous population’? ‘Britons’ are made from a variety of cultures and various settlers. There is no ‘indigenous population’ in Britain as the common tongue describes it, that went thousands of years ago when the Romans came. Should we be removing everyone who has Roman heritage? Surely that would be you!
When you say integrate? What do you mean? Should we be forcing only fish and chips on their tables and Eastenders on repeat? Then in regards to learning the language, yes it would be useful for them, for their benefit only, but there should be nothing mandatory. Did you know that over 50% of ex-pat Brit’s living in Spain can’t say more than a few Spanish sentences? Never hear Reformers complaining about that.
People often say “immigrants strain public services,” but the real issue is how resources are managed and distributed. The UK population has grown, but investment in housing, healthcare, and education hasn’t kept pace. For example, the NHS faces staff shortages and underfunding yet around 1 in 6 NHS workers is foreign-born, meaning immigration actually helps keep it running. If the government underfunds infrastructure or fails to build enough homes, that’s a policy failure, not an immigration problem.
A major structural issue is the unequal distribution of wealth. The richest 1% in the UK hold more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Corporate tax rates and taxes on wealth (like capital gains and inheritance) have fallen over decades, while ordinary workers pay relatively more in income and consumption taxes. Billions are lost every year through tax avoidance by corporations and wealthy individuals money that could fund housing, schools, and hospitals. If those at the top paid a fair share, the state could properly fund services for everyone, immigrant or not.
Numerous studies show immigrants contribute more in taxes than they take out in benefits.
They fill essential jobs in healthcare, construction, agriculture, and care sectors, many of which struggle to recruit locally and younger immigrant workers also help offset an aging population, keeping the workforce and tax base sustainable.
Apologies if I offended you with the AI comment, you could see it as a compliment but clearly you didn’t! I have two autistic children but this isn’t really of relevance to the discussion.
The fashion and food come from the internet these days, not migration. It’s the hideous cultural values that are the norm in the places they come from. For example, female genital mutilation, NHS stats show 37,525 cases since 2015, with 945 of those being reported in Jan – March 2024. I’ll put my neck on the line and say this is probably very far from the actual figures. Stop and have a think about what FGM is and how barbaric it is. You think this is an acceptable practice? You think we should ignore the obvious cultural issues because you think people bring nice food and music??
By indigenous I mean integrated, law abiding citizens – I’m not talking about where their ancestors came from. Why you choose to go off on a tangent about me being a Roman is beyond me – do I have a big nose or something?
I’m from here, I know the rules here, I follow them.
When I say integrate, I mean adopt our laws and respect our customs and societal norms. I’m not a religious person and I know Christianity has it’s faults and some sordid history but any religion that puts a women at a disadvantage to a man (Sharia), calls for genitals to be mutilated, condones underage sex, particularly men having sex with underage girls or calls for those who don’t believe to be murdered is not welcome in my home country and should not be welcome by any one.
Do you think that’s all an acceptable cost for our open door policy? How would you tackle these issues?
I won’t even go into the cultural differences that don’t relate to religion, there are many and some immigrants refuse to let go of their culture regardless of whether it is at odds with our own. Where those differences are abhorrent, I would take issue.
What’s wrong with fish and chips by the way? I couldn’t care less what 50% of British expats in Spain do.
I care about my home.
I don’t complain about the strain on public services, I love a bit of Deliveroo and UberEATS (sorry, needed some humour). I just wish HMRC got paid too.
But seriously, I’ve been in and out of hospital this year and have been treated by a multitude of nationalities. I’m grateful to those people and I am proud they have chosen to live and work here, they are a credit.
I’m not even going to get into your distribution of wealth argument. Work hard get paid. That’s it.
I’ve never said we live in a perfect society, just that it is important for us to retain our moral values and dignity – I guess this is what I mean by our culture.
I don’t disagree for the sake of it, I’ve not been hoodwinked by a politician. I am born and bred here and I do not like seeing the good things we have destroyed or overridden by external influences.
I still think you calling somebody else a fascist because their views differ from your own to be unwarranted.
I could argue ever nonsensical point but when someone has been radicalised, there’s no use.
‘Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience’
The FACT is, Reform are using scaremongering tactics to cover their fascism and so are the majority of their supporters.
All those NHS workers who helped you, Farage and his gang want them all. Even legal immigrants are at risk with Farage’s clear opinion of removing settled status. A vote for Reform means you don’t give a monies about those NHS workers.
Oh so now I’ve been radicalised? I’m stupid too? Or is it the fact that some of the questions above, if answered, would reveal something about you?
Ignoring the point about FGM is unforgivable.
What a charmer you are.
This is the trouble with name calling Lizzy, people have had enough if it.
Did I ever say I was voting for Farage?
It feels like you have an agenda but that it’s losing it’s way Lizzy.
That’s my honest opinion.
Good day.
I repeat ‘Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience’
NO, you just use whatever warped criteria you have for “stupid” or “radicalised” and then you use that as a get out of jail free card to avoid having to face some cold hard truths.
I get it. I just think it’s detrimental to you.
Never argue with stupid and radicalised people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience’
Stop calling people names when you have no reason other than your own issues to do so.
You called some poor woman a fascist, you’ve now told me I am radicalised and stupid.
You really should get some help.
You appear to be incredibly triggered. Perhaps the truth is setting you off? Many people get upset when they come to realise unsavoury truths about themselves.
Now you’re simply posting nonsense?
I’m not triggered at all, I’m certainly quite satisfied that you have exposed your true colours to some extent.
It’s still wrong, childish and a bit antisocial to run around assigning labels to people because you disagree with them. Certainly when those labels (Fascist) are not only disrespectful to actual victims of fascism but also those you assign the label to.
Try to get a better grip of my language before you try to use it in a sentence love.
Facts are facts.
Yes they are I agree with you there.
Opinions are another matter and are often not swayed by facts sadly.
Brodie has been getting away with his bullying misogyny for too many years. Well done Caroline!
Oh put on your big girl pants woman and they would need to be a big pair!!a bit rich about the bullying statement a lot of us remember you from school!!!
Has anyone actually seen the meeting. Didn’t seem at all like bullying to me. Brodie was calm and was raising a point to the Chairman. It looks very much like Gladwin overreacted to a point and kept interrupting. The police will quickly decide no action should be taken and what a total waste of their time that will be
While Lumley is a piece of work, to represent a ward at council you have to be able to hold your own against sometimes very heated situations. You do women no favours by reacting this way . You need to grow a thick skin. Stare the likes of this little man down and not allow him to overwhelm you. Yes, I’ve had years of it, and believe me, its the only way to succeed and earn respect.
Bullying in the workplace is not acceptable.
The behaviour of some members of the County Council as reported in the press make them appear to be like kids fighting in the school yard. Perhaps bit less personal abuse and a bit more focus on the issues which concern those they represent could be adopted. Councillors need to on the one hand treat one another with a bit more respect and on the other be a bit more robust – politics is not for the faint hearted and if you are easily offended you are probably in the wrong game.