Isle of Wight Conservative leader Ed Blake has accused a senior Reform councillor of being ‘incapable’ of answering a public question on her own.
Cllr Blake launched an attack on the chair of the children’s services, education and skills committee, Councillor Ros Freeman, after the panel was probed last week on reducing Island school places and possible school closures.
The Tory education councillor claimed Cllr Freeman ‘doesn’t feel the confidence’ that she is able to say what she wants without being controlled by her party.
Cllr Freeman has not yet responded to a request for comment on the matter.
Last Thursday (2nd July), she read out a response to a question submitted by Simon Richards which she attributed to both herself and Reform group leader, Councillor James Whelan.
The statement said:
“Our priorities are not closing schools. Our priority is improving education. The Reform UK group want parents to feel that their local school is the best place for their child to learn and thrive.”
Reform councillors later joined other education committee members in agreeing that reducing the number of Isle of Wight school places, which may mean school closures, is a ‘critical and urgent’ priority.
Cllr Blake said the answer from councillors Whelan and Freeman did not represent his view as a committee member.
He said:
“I’m confused as to why a question directed to you (Cllr Freeman) has to be answered by councillor Whelan and yourself. Why can’t you answer the question?”
Cllr Freeman said she wrote the answer and as a new councillor and chair of the committee, wanted the answer checked, which she said had been done by the council’s democratic services. The councillor also said she wanted the Chair of her party to read it.
Cllr Blake remarked that this raises ‘more questions than answers’.
Council officer Simon Wiggins earlier said the question was put to the committee’s chair and it is for them to provide the response. He added that how that response is formulated is within the chair’s control.
After the meeting, Cllr Blake told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):
“Kemi Badenoch or the chair of the (Conservative) association does not tell me what to do politically. As a councillor I am there to represent the party.
“But I’m there to act as a councillor and I have self-determination in that. Every other councillor that I’ve ever come across…has demonstrated that.
“Cllr Freeman doesn’t feel the confidence that she’s able to say what she wants without being controlled by the party. That is one way you could read into that.”
He added that ultimately Cllr Freeman is saying she is ‘incapable’ of answering a question.
Maybe that’s because they aeen’t intelligent people
let’s not forget they also voted Brexit even though
they never knew what they was actually voting for.
By the way just look at 99.9% of Reform voters and you
have your answer instantly.
“You cannot buy brains”
Bless them, let them have their little dream, enjoy it while it
lasts, even Nige is deserting the sinking ship.
My thoughts from the start, he talks the talk but he
doesn’t walk the walk.
Since your a lefty who compains about speed causing every issue you wouldn’t understand why leave brevity. Brexit was helping no one in this country and actually making worse which helped migration , taxes increase. There is evidence that migration from people who dont value a country costs alot of money. Taxes and more taxes to help pay for everywhere else but in the UK is bad. Most people in this country have the idea to help the country first everyone else with whats left. Reform of that party and no one else even tries. Green party and Labour are one step closer to socialism with tories sitting back with no clue
Count Binface would be the perfect choice.
Reform are just a joke right now. Vote binface, he’s not nigel!
The other parties are shying away because
Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems and Greens know that
Count Binface will make them look stupid!
No, they’re shying away to make sure Farage does win, then the financial inquiry can continue. It can’t all the while he’s ‘resigned’ and he knows his constituents are fed up with him already. If somebody else won, he’d declare a Trump-esque stitch up/voter fraud. This way, even if one person votes…with no other contenders he wins and the inquiry resumes.
Reform’s Al capone moment!
Count Binface will win.
Why did the cons never answer any questions when they were in so called power Blakei
Concentrate on pulling other people’s pots
People still don’t understand
politicians are puppets, they do as they are told by
their Davos Bosses.
Look at the current nonsense Labour will be installing
an UNELECTED PM
That’s how politics works, it doesn’t work for us!
WE ONLY PAY THEIR WAGES
“Labour will be installing an UNELECTED PM That’s how politics works”
Mmmm… not sure you DO understand how it works…
No PM is ‘Elected’ (by the voting public) as PM
The labour party were elected as the UK government by a large majority (at the time).
Starmer was elected as leader of the labour party, (by the labour party)
Starmer was elected as an MP.
Starmer therefore became PM
Burnham has been elected as an MP
he is also (almost certainly) going to be elected as leader of the labour party (by the labour party),.. and so, as a direct result, Burnham will become PM
Labour (as a party) were elected, Burnham (as an MP) was elected. Burnham will be elected as leader of the labour party. Burnham will become PM….
It’s not really difficult to understand.
if in doubt, ask the Conservatives… they had 3 PMs in their last parliament
You honesty think any accurate procedural facts go in? EiE’s brain is stuck in short circuit repeating his own badly thought out drivel.
Bless you, the hot weather must be getting to you.
Take a chill pill.
I hope Burnham has ideas to improve the UK. Rather than tax and burn policy from Starmer, Reeves and Miliband.
He needs to ditch Reeves and Milliband otherwise
it will be the same old!.
And we don’t want “I forgot to pay my Stamp duty
Ang back”!
Count Binface is the best option
Funny how that question was never asked when tories or Labour was in power. It was all cool then. So more power to ignore his stupid question
Now THAT was a cheap shot Blakey. I am sure that when you entered the high powered political arena that is local council politics, you had every answer ready to go, you were never unsure of the correct procedures, or how an answer must be formulated to satisfy the pedants on the council, in fact you probably knew more than anyone ever in the history of local politics! However, you might find that not everyone dances to your particular tune, not everyone is so enamoured by your sharp wit and political acumen and not everyone is as excruciatingly perfect as you think you are. So what if an answer wasn’t forthcoming in your required format or time frame or signed in a way to satisfy your exacting standards? Its nice to see that help is available to those who need it, that a party leader is above snipes at new members or intent upon damage rather than repair.. it’s just a shame that you have shown your true Tory colours so early, and seek to divide rather than find solutions.. get off the high horse and get on with fixing this horrendous mess you and your cohorts have caused to ALL of us.
Reform’s appeal was on national issues. Local government is a great knot of other issues requiring power to exercised to undertake a raft of responsibilities , and to take difficult and often unpopular decisions, such as school closures.
It seems many new councillors were not ready for the job, and are fearful of having actually to make policy and act on it.
Reform are not up to the job.