‘We’re not in Labour’s pocket’: Independents respond to criticism after backing council leader

An opposition leader has accused independent groups of propping up a “disastrous and costly Labour administration” after a vote which put the party back in minority control of a hung council.

Independent leaders rejected the criticisms as “rubbish” and explained why their seven members voted for Labour group leader Councillor Bob Cook to remain leader of Stockton Council. He won against rival nominee Cllr Tony Riordan, the Conservative group leader, by a 29-21 vote at an annual general meeting at Billingham Forum Theatre on Wednesday (May 24).

The Labour group, Thornaby Independent Association (TIA) and Ingleby Barwick Independent Society (IBIS) said in a statement: “We have agreed to work together for the betterment of the area. No one group has overall control.

READ MORE: Labour keeps minority control of Stockton Council helped by votes from independent groups

“The challenges facing our communities and the council require consistency, collaboration, and experience. We believe that already exists with the current cabinet and the working relationship which exists between the groups.

“IBIS and the TIA will work with the administration on an issue-by-issue basis and make sure we get the best for our residents in Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick,” they said following the appointment of a Labour leader and cabinet and overwhelmingly Labour chairs and vice chairs of council committees.

However, Cllr Riordan – whose Conservative group currently equals Labour’s with 22 seats each on the council – said: “It came as no surprise today that both TIA and IBIS voted unanimously to keep the heavily defeated and struggling Labour group in control of Stockton Borough Council.

‘The same failing Labour group’

“Voters will be asking themselves, ‘I voted for change in the control of Stockton Borough Council, how come we have the same failing Labour group pulling the strings?’ I would say to those voters who believed they were voting for an independent councillor to bring about change, contact your councillor and ask why they have voted for Labour to remain in control.

“Vote IBIS or TIA get Labour. Vote Conservative get Conservative.

“In the recent elections in Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby the Conservative Group amassed 6,699 votes to Labour’s 3,493, however IBIS and TIA have chosen to ignore this and continue to prop up their Labour friends.

“41% of people voted Conservative with the Labour group attracting less than 35% of the vote. I’m quite sure this gap will grow bigger after the election in Hartburn at the end of June,” he said of the forthcoming delayed poll for the final three council seats.

‘Absolute rubbish’

In response, the independent groups’ leaders told how issues including voters’ interests, central government decisions like funding cuts and the social care levy, and unhappiness over election campaigning and electoral boundary changes fed into their decision.

TIA leader Cllr Sylvia Walmsley said to the Conservative leader’s comments: “I think it’s absolute rubbish. When there’s been budget meetings, yes we’ve supported the Labour group, because they were the only ones that put through a viable proposition.

“The Conservatives would speak against it, but not once did they ever come through with an alternative that people could have studied and voted on. They just shout out from the rooftops that they’re against this, that or the other.

“We have to be realistic. We’re not in Labour’s pocket.

“We haven’t gone into a formal coalition. We’ll work with the administration on an issue-by-issue basis and obviously things will be open for negotiation but we need to make sure we get the best for our residents in Thornaby.”

‘Slagged off’

IBIS leader Cllr Kevin Faulks said he had seen his group “slagged off” in the election and expressed dissatisfaction with previous Conservative suggestions and opposition to projects, while Labour had supported schemes in the town.

He said: “We’re here to represent the people of Ingleby Barwick. We would work with anybody for the benefit of our residents, but every time something comes up for Ingleby Barwick, they continue to vote against it time and time again.

“If we’d went with them, we’d end up with nothing. People voted for us because they knew the investment we’ve brought into Ingleby over the years.”

‘It’s not about the parties’

Cllr Cook said after the meeting: “We’ve got an experienced cabinet to meet the challenges. We’ve got a lot of things to deal with financially.

“It has been an interesting time, speaking to all of the groups and trying to sort things out. It’s been a hectic three weeks since May 4. We’ve been working hard to get a solution to run the council.

“Obviously it’s not a formal coalition. It’s working together between the parties and it’ll be issue by issue. No one party’s got a majority so we’ll have to work hard to make sure we’re able to get things through the council.

“The previous four years were similar, we’re happy with the way everything turned out and we’ll work with all the parties on the council. What I’ve always tried to do is consult with all the groups on how things should be done.

“It’s not about the parties, it’s about the people out there. We’re striving to make life easier for people.”

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