Councillor quits as group leader after claiming he’s been gagged

The leader of Caerphilly’s Independent group has resigned from the post, claiming he has been “gagged” after the county borough council refused to give him information.

Cllr Kevin Etheridge, pictured, will remain a councillor for Blackwood but will no longer lead the Independent group.

The long-standing councillor said he felt the need to stand down after contacting the council regarding an open letter from more than 40 Caerphilly businesses who raised concerns about difficulties in accessing financial support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Etheridge, who has led the group for three years, said he asked the council whether staff were working over the Easter break to “help process outstanding claims.”

However, this information, Cllr

Etheridge said, was refused.

He said: “I’m not having the business sector treated like this and I feel gagged for asking one question.

“The Independents put in a formal complaint defending the private sector which was ignored and noted by the chief executive.”

The leader of the council and Cerphilly’s Labour Group Cllr Philippa Marsden said: “The claims made by Cllr Etheridge that he has been ‘gagged’ or treated unfairly are completely untrue and inaccurate.

“To be frank, I do not have time for his political point scoring nonsense at the moment as my sole focus is to lead and co-ordinate the council’s response to the unprecedented coronavirus emergency.”

Cllr Graham Simmonds of the Cefn Forest ward has taken over as leader of the group.