Party whip is removed for rebel Tory duo
TWO Hyndburn councillors have had the Conservative party whip removed for voting with Labour on a policing motion.
Councillors Patrick McGinley and Josh Allen both voted with Labour on the motion for fair distribution of police funding for Hyndburn.
As punishment for siding with Labour, Conservative group leader, councillor Marlene Haworth, removed the whip from both councillors for two months.
The rest of the Conservatives abstained on the vote, which passed.
Labour councillor Glen Harrison tabled the motion last week, which called for MP Sara Britcliffe to ask the government for a ‘fairer distribution of policing to the county’.
It supported a petition by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw to demand a fair deal for Lancashire and get our bobbies back’ while also resolving to write to the Minister of Policing Kit Malthouse MP to ask for a fairer allocation of police resources in Lancashire.
Cllr Harrison claims that Lancashire has had one of the highest level of cuts to any police force in the country, losing over 750 police officers since 2010.
In a statement Cllr McGinley, a former police detective of 34 years, said: “As an ex senior detective who retired with 11 high class commendations, four medals for duty both here and overseas and two bravery awards, how could anyone seriously expect me not to vote in favour of more police officers.
Cllr McGinley also said that the motion was used to embarrass Conservative Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe, who he says has relentlessly fought for more police numbers.
He said that the public would be confused as to why the Conservative group decided to abstain, but that this was a political move to protect the local MP.
Councillor Josh Allen was also punished for supporting the motion.
However, in the same statement he also argued that Sara Britcliffe should not remain as a councillor as well as serving as an MP.
In response Sara Britcliffe said: “I have said previously that, whilst no elections have taken place, I feel it unfair to leave my residents in St. Andrews ward without a representative on the council and I will continue to work for them
On the vote Cllr McGinley said: “My constituents include great Tories who fully support the police and their needs at all times and I voted how they would have wanted me to vote. I voted yes’ along with the Labour group and one other Tory member voted - like me - both with conscience, principles and integrity.”
He also stated that he fully accepts his loss of the whip.
Labour leader of the council Miles Parkinson OBE said he was appreciative of Cllr McGinley’s support on the motion.
He said: “The debate at full council regarding the motion was very in-depth.
“Being a former inspector in the constabulary councillor McGinley knows full well the details and struggles of the constabulary in Lancashire, which is under-resourced at this time.
“We are grateful to those two councillors who on principle supported the motion, to make sure policing was invested in Lancashire and make sure more policing comes to Hyndburn.”
He also questioned the decision to suspend the members on the basis of voting with their principles. The other Cllr punished was Josh Allen, who because of the decision has had to withdraw as a candidate for the Lancashire County Council elections next year.
Cllr McGinley said this Cllr Allen’s decision to withdraw: “He was a brilliant candidate. This is a tragedy for the party and I hope others reflect on this.
Conservative group leader Marlene Haworth did not wish to make a comment on the matter and said she’d hoped the issue had remained private.