The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
FOI reveals ‘resignation email’ sent to Tory leader
Councillor threatened to quit group
The email sent by a Conservative city councillor which was mistakenly read as a resignation note has been revealed. A Freedom of Information request by the Peterborough Telegraph has divulged the message sent by Councillor Gul Nawaz to Councillor John Holdich, Peterborough City Council and leader of the council’s Conservative group, a weekafterbothhadbeenreelected.
Afewhoursaftertheemail was sent, Cllr Holdich and Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson both told the PT Cllr Nawaz had resigned which would have seen the Conservatives lose their majority on the council.
However, CllrHoldichlater told the PT he had misunderstood the email, adding: “He didnotactually resign. Hehad emailed me to say he wanted to talk to meaboutresigning.”
Theissue, according to the council leader, was because Cllr Nawaz had believed he was going to be the next Mayor of Peterborough, a position which was instead taken up by Cllr David Sanders due to him being a councillor for more years.
The email sent to Cllr Holdichcomesfromablankedout email address. Also copied in are Mr Jackson, Conservative councillor John Peach, and Gillian Beasley, the council’s chief executive.
Titled ‘Resignation from the Conservative Group’, the email reads: “I would like to request a meeting with you as a matter of urgency, I wish to discuss my resignation from the Conservative Group. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Cllr Nawaz, member for Ravensthorpe, firsttoldthePT hehadnotdecidedwhetherto quit the Tories to become an independent councillor.
Responding to the FOI, he said: “It’s all been settled now and I’m still a Conservative memberandhavebeenaConservative for the last 25 years. AndI’mlookingforwardtothe challenges under the strong leadership of Cllr Holdich.
“I will work closely with himandIthink it will go well.”
Cllr Holdichdidnotwishto respond to the FOI. Speaking last month he said: “I’m absolutely delighted he’s staying as a Conservative. He’s oneof the best ward councillors on the council.”