TAMESIDE Council’s leader has survived a motion of no confidence.
But the man Cllr Eleanor Wills replaced, -Cllr Gerald Cooney, has called for an investigation into the body that appointed her and for its report to be ‘ripped up.’
Conservative Liam Billington called for the extraordinary council meeting, during which he claimed the Labour Party had undemocratically chose the authority’s new head.
In October, Cllr Wills was installed by its National Executive Committee (NEC) as it also appointed other cabinet members, which the Stalybridge South representative labelled ‘a disgrace and a discredit to the people of Tameside.’
He also told councillors on Tuesday, March 4 three appointments have now been suspended following the Trigger Me Timbers WhatsApp furore, bringing yet more questions over its decision making.
Cllr Billington said: “There’s a real democratic deficit by taking power away from elected councillors who are voted in by the public to appoint an external party body.
“That to me is a real disgrace and a discredit to the people of Tameside.
“I want to see an effective council that works for the residents of this borough first and foremost.
“Now we’re being instructed by an external party body who are more interested in grabbing the pension fund, let’s face it.
“This is about what is right and wrong for our residents.”
His Tory colleagues also stood up to back the motion, condemning the process.
Cllr Phil Chadwick described it as ‘a matter that directly affects the democratic governance of Tameside Council.’
He added: “The events that have unfolded in recent months have raised concerns about the integrity, transparency and accountability of the leadership.”
Three of Tameside Council’s cabinet members, Councillors Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton, stepped down from their positions because of their involvement in the WhatsApp group.
A total of 10 Tameside representatives – eight from Denton plus Audenshaw’s Charlotte Martin and Cllr Cooney – are currently suspended from the Labour Party as it investigates.
Denton MP Andrew Gwynne was sacked from his role as a health minister and also sidelined, along with Burnley’s Oliver Ryan, who was an Audenshaw councillor at the time.
Labour councillors backed their leader against what deputy leader Cllr Andrew McLaren described as a ‘half-baked charade of a motion.’
He said: “I can say unequivocally that I’ve never worked with a more honest, transparent, calm, inspiring, motivating and hard-working person.”
Cllr Tafheen Sharif added she has ‘done more in four months than others have done in four years.’
“The NEC is not making council decisions, we are,” she commented.
Former leader Cllr Cooney – who did not support the motion but contended suggestions made by Cllr McLaren over the length of the leader’s appointment – insisted the Labour WhatsApp scandal was the work of Denton and Reddish councillors only and slammed its contents.
The Droylsden representative went on to criticise the NEC involvement in Tameside Council affairs, agreeing it should have no say in who should be their leader.
He said: “My concern is the control of the NEC. They phoned me, they said they were coming in because of five letters of resignation – most of those have since been suspended for being members of a vile WhatsApp group.
“The NEC’s report should be ripped up, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny in itself, and then someone needs to investigate the NEC – how it then goes through its process because it’s wrong and they’re moving in around the country.
“Is the NEC working well? I don’t think so. We need to challenge that as Labour Party members.
“The people they put in the cabinet as well – they didn’t just do the leader – showed strong leadership skills and everything else.
“They all got suspended a few days later. It’s a vile site.”
Cllr Wills, leader since October and speaking ‘from the heart’, said: “I think there are lots of responses in regards to some salacious things, shall we say. I’m here now talking to put myths to bed.
“I knew nothing about the messages. I’m not a leader who knows anything about it.
“I’m the only person that put their name forward (to be leader) for this group. I will do it again and again and again.
“I will continue to do that because it’s the right thing to do for my borough.”