Lib Dem Cllr Ashton condemns “purge” of Lib Dem and Labour committee leaders

At the Annual Council of Lichfield District Council on May 13 all opposition committee Chairs and Vice Chairs (other than Overview and Scrutiny) were replaced by Conservative and independent members in what can only be described as a “purge”. Cllr Hugh Ashton comments on these actions. He says,

“I found last night’s actions to be petty and reprehensible. When the opposition group of Lib Dems and Labour changed the committee leaderships to reflect the composition of the new council, Conservatives were appointed to positions along with Labour and Lib Dem members. For them to complain as they did last night about a ‘power grab’ at that time is dishonest and egregious.

“It has been told to me on good authority that some of the new committee leaders were unaware of their proposed new positions until the printed list was handed around halfway through the meeting. This is an insult to the residents whom we serve – picking names from a hat to fill important positions regardless of willingness to serve in these roles. It stands in sharp contrast to the conscientious way in which the opposition group committee leaders have conducted themselves in their respective committees.

“I was disgusted by the hypocrisy of some of the ruling group, who went out of their way to praise the work of Labour and Lib Dem committee leaders, and then voted to remove them and replace them with their own members, often with little or no specialist knowledge or experience of their chosen committees. I no longer have faith in the goodwill of the Conservative group or confidence in their desire to serve the community rather than their own narrow party interests.”

Cllr Ashton's comments were published on Lichfield Live, along with criticism of these actions by Cllr Sue Woodward, Labour Leader, and a defence by Council Leader, Cllr Doug Pullen.