Call made for Leader’s resignation after Lib Dems ban discussion of email scandal

The Chairman of Northumberland County Council has banned councillors from discussing an email in which the Council Leader says he will block a rebuild of the Duchess’ High School unless a Lib Dem parking policy is passed. The Lib Dem Chairman is now accused by opposition councillors of using his position to shield the Lib Dem Leader, Jeff Reid, from embarrassment. Leader of Northumberland Conservatives, Coun. Peter Jackson, attempted to propose a motion of censure against the Council Leader at a meeting discussing the parking strategy. The Chairman, after checking with the council solicitor, used a point of procedure to prevent the motion being proposed or debated.

Guy Opperman said, "The council meeting was an opportunity for Jeff Reid to explain his comments about blocking funding for local high schools. Instead, the Lib Dems would not even allow it to be debated and used council procedure to protect Coun. Reid from further embarrassment. Coun. Reid did not even have the decency to apologise.

I will continue to impress upon the government the importance of getting funding to rebuild high schools in Northumberland. However, it is now clear that those of us campaigning for the rebuilding and repair of our schools must do so without the support of our county council, at least for as long as it remains under the leadership of Jeff Reid and the Lib Dems. Residents are rightly upset at the way the council is acting and Coun. Reid should resign his position so we can begin to rebuild faith in our local authority as a body working for the good of local people, rather than against them."

Gordon Castle, County Councillor for Alnwick and member of the Conservative Group on NCC, said, “Local people that I have spoken to are angered by what Jeff Reid has said about blocking funding for our High School and are extremely dubious about his attempt to pass it off as a joke. This council meeting was an opportunity for him to explain himself to the public. Instead, the Lib Dems have decided that the best way to deal with this issue is by banning councillors from openly debating what has happened.”    

Peter Jackson said, “The people of Alnwick and surrounding areas deserve a full explanation from Jeff Reid after his crass threats regarding The Duchess’ High School. But now the Lib Dem Chairman of the council has ruled that his Lib Dem Leader must not be asked about it in council. It is nothing short of a scandal that Jeff Reid is hiding behind council procedure to avoid questioning on this crucial issue. I am angry to be denied the opportunity to hold him to account and embarrassed to be part of an organisation that thinks it is acceptable to do business in this way.

People in Northumberland now know the real reason why the council has not committed money to a rebuild of their local schools. In the absence of a formal apology, and in the absence of the Leader being willing to be held publicly accountable for his actions, the only honourable thing for him to do is to resign his position as Leader of the Council.”