‘I’ll work with Tory MPs for the good of people’ – council boss
THE Labour leader of Cheshire East Council insists he we will work with David Rutley and the borough’s four other MPs ‘for the benefit of residents’.
Councillor Sam Corcoran was questioned at a council meeting about comments he made in a letter sent to local newspapers across the borough regarding last month’s General Election.
In that letter, he wrote: “I find myself in the remarkable position of being the Labour leader of Cheshire East Council when all five of the MPs covering Cheshire East are now Conservative.”
Mr Rutley held his Macclesfield seat in the election, as did Fiona Bruce in Congleton and Esther McVey in Tatton.
Meanwhile, Edward Timpson was elected in Eddisbury and Kieran
Mullan won Crewe and Nantwich for the Tories.
Coun Arthur Moran said: “In (Coun Corcoran’s) letter he gives reasons why the Labour Party actually lost the election - or tries to give reasons.
“Can I ask the leader of the council - is he going to accept the result of the General Election, and will he work with our five Conservative MPs in the best interests of the people of Cheshire East and this council?”
Coun Moran’s comments were met with applause from the Conservative side of the chamber - and the party’s group leader also wanted assurances the administration would work with local MPs.
Coun Janet Clowes said: “In light of last week’s definitive General Election results, please may I ask that the administration doesn’t just wait on the phone call that you’ve made.
“But reinstates the regular, collective meetings with the five MPs that represent this borough in order that this council can collectively, and effectively, lobby central Government in the interest of residents.”
Coun Corcoran responded: “I have already emailed all five of the MPs for this area to congratulate them on their election, or in some cases re-election, and in one case election in a different constituency.
“I do look forward to working productively for the benefit of all residents with the MPs for this borough.
“I included in that email an invitation to set up meetings.
“I do wish to work with all MPs for the benefit of the residents of Cheshire East, and I would add that I have already met the MPs prior to the election for the area.”
The Sandbach councillor had already come in for criticism from some of his own party colleagues for comments he made in the letter.
In particular, he suggested it is ‘noteworthy’ that local Labour MPs - including Laura Smith of
Crewe and Nantwich - ‘who broke the party line and voted in favour of Boris [ Johnson’s] Brexit Bill in Parliament all lost their seats’.