Strutton out of council meeting

Slough: Leader of the opposition leaves after exchange

The leader of the opposition walked out of a meeting of Slough council on Monday evening after clashing with the Labour leader.

Conservative group leader Cllr Wayne Strutton, (Con, Haymill and Lynch Hill) attended a meeting of the cabinet, chaired by leader of the council James Swindlehurst (Lab & Co-Op, Cippenham Green).

Cllr Strutton complained about problems he has had with the council’s IT and phone systems – an ongoing issue acknowledged by the administration.

Cllr Swindlehurst said there would be a ‘proper paper’ coming soon that would address this.

Cllr Strutton felt that the administration was playing down the issue and making out that the problems were temporary.

“You have been talking for five or six years about improving our IT – the proof is in the pudding and we’re yet to eat any of that pudding.”

Wishing to move the meeting on, Cllr Swindlehurst told Cllr Strutton that his ‘issue with the photocopier this afternoon’ was not a governance issue and therefore, not relevant.

Cllr Strutton raised the matter again later in the evening and Cllr Swindlehurst further criticised him for bringing up points he did not feel were pertinent to the matter at hand.

“Just make your point. It’s not the time for political grandstanding,” he said.

“You’re the king of political grandstanding,” said Cllr Strutton in return, leading to raised voices between the pair.

The heated exchange continued – and soon afterwards, Cllr Strutton declared he was leaving: “I don’t want to be in a meeting where there’s a bully, and officers won’t stop (them),” he said, standing up.

Cllr Swindlehurst responded: “I’m the chair of this meeting, please observe the rules and make your point concisely. If you can’t do that, it’s best that you go.”

Cllr Strutton then walked out, even though there were four more items left on the agenda.