Author: simon
IW Council Tells Island Labour Candidate: Resign Or Stand Down
Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 at 6:10 am, Isle of Wight
Election, Island-wide, Isle of Wight Council, Politics
We hear that the Island’s prospective parliamentary Labour candidate, Mark Chiverton, has been told by the senior management at the Isle of Wight council that he should either resign his job, or stand down as a candidate.
He’s outraged.
Mark completed the 2005 election as the Labour candidate while continuing his job at County Hall and acting as Branch Secretary of the union, Unison, without any suggestion that there was a problem. Why should there now be a problem, he asks, given he does the canvassing in his personal time.
Mark’s Agent and Newport Councillor Geoff Lumley said, “It is clear to me that this is an attack by Mark’s employers on his civil liberties, which they know he will not relinquish easily.
He is now taking legal advice via his union and the Labour party.
Update: We’ve contacted the council to ask for their comment.Read Steve Beynon’s response
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There’s no conflict of interest here as far as I can see. Being a parliamentary candidate does not conflict with a job in local government or being a union rep.
If he is elected he would resign his current job, so what’s the problem ?
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The Tory Council Leader will be seen to be bullying and here lies the real conflict of interest and lets hope he gets reported to the appropriate authority.This has happened on his watch!
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Do all prospective candidates have to resign their jobs; I do not think so.
I feel that this is victimisation by a Tory Party that has lost its way. I foresee an industrial tribunal on the horizon and the poor tax payers footing the bill.
It would be far of far more interest to me and the electorate, if we discussed the pay and allowances at County Hall.
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Unbelievable! Surely Chiverton’s been a candidate before while also an employee? He’s the Unison rep for goodness sake.
What on earth is Pugh doing, has he lost his marbles? Maybe he knows his failing council are in their final term so can do as he pleases. This really is petty.
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The Council Tories should now have a vote of confidence in their Leader. This block voting they have been doing, voting through fear?Get back to representing your wards and not be frightened to speak out.
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Perhaps VB could ask Andrew Turner to state his position on this issue. Is the move to take away Mark’s job so close to an election, if he stands for Parliament, a move planned between the MP and Council leadership to protect AT’s majority which is apparently threatened by the prospective UKip Candidate? Not a lot appears to have changed since Elizabeth Gaskell wrote ‘North and South’ in the 1850’s.
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Has this been devised for Andrew Turner to lose the seat letting in the Liberals and then David Pugh becomes PPC for the Conservatives on the Island?Cameron will be pleased.
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UKIP candidate. Who’s that then? Pugh would lose the seat for the Tories without a doubt. In another three months he’ll be the most unpopular man on the island the way he’s going.
I agree, island Tory councillors need to find their voices and some courage. Someone has to tell Pugh enough is enough. His record is one of failure and by the sound of it, economy with the actualite. What has he managed to acomplish as leader? He’s made the council a joke. Eco-island, schools fiasco, roads pfi, back-stabbing his colleagues. Why on earth do these dumb councillors support him? Speak up someone!
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Did they ask the same questions of Lib-Dem candidate Jill Wareham?
Isn’t she also employed by IW Council? clerk to 2 schools and something else at Sandown High. Has she been asked how she will work and canvass? or is it just to squeeze Mark!
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Libby has just reminded me about Jill Wareham! I had forgotten she was around. She’s awfully quiet on here at the moment – which is strange as she normally gives her views – or her husband does.
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I do work as clerk to governors but am only part time. I have not been asked to ‘consider my position’ by the Chief Executive. Beynon’s bully boy stance just goes to show that he and his Tory Councillors think they can do what they like. He seems to be backing off and quite rightly so. Beynon’s treatment of Mark is appalling and he should apologise to him. I think the hidden agenda by Beynon is to cut jobs and save money due to their complete financial mismanagement over the last five years.
(Sal thanks for email – I must say I haven’t looked at the blog for a few days)
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On the ball eh Jill? This has been a big story- and not only on Ventnor Blog (marvellous though this blog is), but on County Press and IW radio sites too. I would have thought you might have commented by now to one of them at least! Hey ho, maybe if you get to be the MP you’ll have staff to watch out for what is happening locally…
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