LIBDEM - SINGULAR LACK OF PRINCIPLE

Back in operation today after a break - though I did attend another Care & Health Policy Commission on 24th - to find out that the Tories have got a new Chair for their 'opposition' Scrutiny Committee. It is Cllr Garry Price (Parkhurst ward), a LibDem, who was a member of the previous Scrutiny Committee and was the one opposition member who did not resign or refuse the later offer from the Tories to join - probably because he hasn't attended any Council meetings since 18 May, for 'business reasons'. He gave the same reason when he stood down as LibDem group leader after just one month.

Garry Price is well-known for his ambition - some say he is interested in being the next LibDem IW parliamentary candidate - so clearly personal political promotion is more important than his business or the principle his LibDem Council colleagues were defending back in July - his colleagues Adams and Knowles DID resign and Bowker supported them.

Will be interesting to see if they return to the Scrutiny Committee - Price claims he has their support, but we will see.

It is particularly surprising that the Leader of the Council has claimed that Cllr Price’'s appointment will lead to effective scrutiny, having spent most of the previous four years castigating the way it was undertaken by the former ‘'Island First'’ Select Committee Chair’s, of which Cllr Price was one.

So long as the ruling Tories at County Hall intend to dictate to the opposition how to run the Scrutiny function, neither Cllr Deborah Gardiner nor myself will take part. However, we will continue to hold the Tories to account on behalf of our constituents and all Islanders by effective use of the Full Council meetings and the media.