‘They conceal their true colours’

THE leader of the Independent group which controls a Welsh council has come under fire after confirming that around a third of his councillors are members of political parties.

Jamie Adams, the leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said he saw nothing wrong with the fact that “10 to 12” councillors in his “Independent Plus” group were also card-carrying members of the Conservative and Labour parties as well as “maybe a couple” who belong to Plaid Cymru.

But Labour’s Mid and West Wales AM Baroness Eluned Morgan said voters had a right to know the political allegiances of the candidates they were asked to vote for.

Non-aligned councillor Tessa Hodgson raised concerns about the fact that Coun Adams and a number of other “Independent Plus” councillors had not mentioned that they belonged to a group that had been running Pembrokeshire for the last five years.

She said: “The election addresses of two cabinet members of the current Independent Plus party group (IPPG) have been forwarded to me. Neither make any reference to their membership of the IPPG or their cabinet roles.

“I have also had sight of Jamie Adams’ leaflet and in it he makes no mention of his role as leader of both the council and the IPPG.

“In any other world, being leader or a cabinet member would be something to be proud of. Instead, when election time comes round the IPPG top brass and members go to great lengths to conceal their true colours from the voters of Pembrokeshire.

“They style themselves as Independent, or even Truly Independent, when, in reality, they are members of a what is effectively a highly organised political party.

“This is designed to deceive the voters of Pembrokeshire and any member of the IPPG whether in a cabinet or junior role who has produced election literature professing to be an Independent should hang their heads in shame.”

Mr Adams responded: “I don’t believe that politics has a place in local government, and that view is shared by a lot of people in Pembrokeshire and across Wales. After Labour, the next largest category of councillors is Independent.

“Under our control, the council has the second best services in Wales and the lowest council tax.

“People in my area know that I’m the leader of the council. There’s no need for me to put that on my election leaflets.”

Asked what his group’s ideology was, Mr Adams said: “We’re here to serve the taxpayers and to provide quality services and value for money.”