The LibDem Leader of Swansea Council showed his full commitment to liberalism and democracy back in the summer of 2008 by shopping the collective ranks of the Conservative and Labour Opposition Groups to the Ombudsman for a breach of the Code of Conduct.
The crime of these wrongdoers?
Nothing less than democratically-elected Councillors voting against discussing a report behind closed doors.
It strikes me that the LibDems in Swansea are so keen on winning, that the ballot box has become only one tool in their armoury (after all, they've never won a majority of votes across Swansea and had to team up with a bunch of very odd bedfellows to seize power). Now, they seek to use the Ombudsman to make spurious and often vexatious complaints against their opponents. Despite more sensible LibDems in Swansea, like Peter Black, not being happy with all this running off to grass to the bureaucrats, his view is overruled by his Leader in Swansea.
The LibDem Leadership in Swansea seem to be about as committed to pluralism, liberalism and democracy as Robert Mugabe. Certainly they are seeking ways of denying democratic choice by challenging the rights of elected Councillors to vote in a free and fair manner.
I often wonder how anyone could be a LibDem in Swansea these days and not be embarrassed by the incompetence of those who lead the party in these parts. At the Swansea West Conservative AGM, there were three former LibDem party members in attendance and that doesn't even include me! I look forward to welcoming many more over the coming months.
The Evening Post covers the story online today and some background to story from 2008 here.
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This is an unbelievable story.
ReplyDeleteLast week Holley is threatening 700 council job cuts so to make ends meet, this week he is spending thousands pursuing a case with the Ombudsman because opposition councillors asked for a vote on an item that involves the spending of public money.
The main reason Swansea Council went for a cabinet system many years ago was to show democracy and openness to the public.
In fact one of the main points of the Lib-Dem local election campaign was that they would be more open than Labour (and Mr Black you even knocked on my door and told me that).
What we have had since Holley came to power is an incompetent fool on a power trip. He has stumbled along trying to lead Swansea Council for the last 5 years and seeks to rat on anyone who does not share his views or do as he says.
Yet this man is the leader of the LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS in Swansea. His views are far from Liberal and as for Democracy then it is quite clear that his actions show a distinct lack of respect from them.
Seriously Rene, you and David Phillips need to do something to get this fool out. Can a vote of no confidence be called? How much is this Ombudsman report costing? How much is legal representation for 32 councillors going to cost?
Why is MY council tax money being spent on this witch-hunt?
For the sake of every hard-working council tax payer in Swansea who loves their city and does not want to see it decline any further, please, please, please do something.