‘What type of people do you want leading the district council?’

SINCE 2007 there has been a well defined demarcation line between the Conservative and Independent Group, and the Staffordshire Moorlands Conservative Association at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, but no longer.

The Conservative Association has forcefully and aggressively taken control of the SMDC Group.

They have excluded the Biddulph Independents from not only group meetings, but also decision-making, by using Conservative Association rules.

During the past four administrations, the Independents have made the difference in three, keeping the Conservatives in control.

A Conservative-only group meeting was held on April 21,

and three Conservative friends who attended phoned me to tell me that “a three-line whip” had been imposed for the AGM of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to be held on May 4.

For those who are not au fait with the term, a three-line whip is a strict instruction to attend and vote according to the party’s position, a breach of which could have serious consequences, but normally results in a twenty one day suspension from the party, not a lifetime ban.

In the 17 years that I have been a member of the Conservative and Independent Group, I have never had a three-line whip imposed.

I have never known anything like it, and one can’t help but feel that for a whip to be threatened does seem to show a feeling of insecurity in the proposed new leadership!

This type of behaviour does not bode well for the future, and is surely only destined to deter decentminded people from becoming involved in politics, which leads me to ask the question what type of people do you want at the top of the District Council?

Those who listen to what the public has to say, and can think for themselves, or ambitious and talentless wannabes who are only interested in their own success?

Cllr Andrew Hart Cabinet Member for Tourism

and Property Services