Follies calls on Julie Porksen to back Labour’s promise to get rid of the hated and malicious ‘bedroom tax’ and to distance herself from Sir Alan Beith who now seems to be simply nodding through coalition policies without any thought for Berwicks families

Berwick’s Lib Dems at loggerheads over ‘Bedroom Tax’ New candidate breaks ranks with Sir Alan over ‘spare room subsidy’ Berwick Liberal Democrats are accused of being at ‘loggerheads’ over the controversial imposition of the so called ‘bedroom tax’ with newly selected candidate Julie Porksen setting out her opposition to the ‘tax’ which was backed by ‘retiring’ MP Sir Alan Beith. Now Labour are calling for Ms Porksen to answer whether she would support Labour’s plan to ‘scrap the tax’ if they form a government in 2015. Labour are pointing towards the effects of the ‘tax’ which now means that families on low incomes have to find an extra £680 to cover housing benefit. They’re also highlighting that more than 56% of those affected receive ‘in work benefits’ to top up low wages. Northumberland has the second lowest average ‘wage’ and when ‘in work benefits’ are stripped out the county average is just £12,809. The reality of a Lib Dem MP Alan Beith in Berwick who has slavishly backed a ‘tax’ which isn’t fair or even saving the tax payer money is the Tories can continue to hammer Berwick’s families and enshrine our area as a ‘low wage economy’.Follies calls on Julie Porksen to back Labour’s promise to get rid of the hated and malicious ‘bedroom tax’ and to distance herself from Sir Alan Beith who now seems to be simply nodding through coalition policies without any thought for Berwick’

The £5,000 twits! Town hall shells out taxpayers's cash on 'Orwellian' probe into councillor's tweets... and finds him totally innocent, Alison Austin who made the compliant, photo below.

The Follies are aspreading to North Tyneside Tories The £5,000 twits! Town hall shells out taxpayers's cash on 'Orwellian' probe into councillor's tweets... and finds him totally innocent • Row erupted when Labour's Jim Allan criticised decision by previous Tory administration on North Tyneside council to outsource jobs to private firms • Complaint was made by Tory councillor and an inquiry launched into whether councillor's conduct had damaged authority's reputation By Chris Brooke UPDATED: 01:10, 23 November 2013 Daily Mail A town hall spent £5,000 on an investigation into Jim Allan's tweets - and then decided he'd done nothing wrong Town hall chiefs spent £5,000 on an ‘Orwellian’ investigation into a councillor’s tweets – before deciding he had done nothing wrong. The row erupted when Labour member Jim Allan used Twitter to criticise a decision by the previous Tory administration on North Tyneside council to outsource jobs to private firms. A complaint was made by a Tory councillor and an inquiry was launched into whether Mr Allan’s conduct had damaged the authority’s reputation. It is estimated that the full cost of the investigation exceeded £5,000, including wages and travel expenses. There was even a two-day hearing at the Langdale Centre in Howdon, North Tyneside. The tweets, published towards the end of 2012, related to a council decision to outsource 800 jobs to private companies Balfour Beatty and Capita Symonds. Mr Allan, who leads the Labour group that now has control of the council, said on the social networking site: ‘How could they make a decision without looking at the risks.’ He later tweeted a link to a news item about outsourcing at Barnet Council in London, saying: ‘We have already crossed the line via a Tory cabinet who did not consider the risks.’ On Wednesday, the hearing concluded that Mr Allan was not in breach of the council’s code of conduct. He said: ‘The amount of money spent on the investigation has been an absolute disgrace. ‘We are all in financial difficulty at the moment, and North Tyneside council is no different. ‘The money and time could have been spent in far better ways. ‘I have the right to freedom of speech. There was nothing nasty in what I tweeted, nothing slanderous, and nor did I refer to the council by name. ‘The whole thing was politically motivated. It has been stressful, but I am glad it is over, and the hearing ruled in my favour. ‘I am shocked they spent so much time investigating something that has not affected anybody. ‘It is beyond belief.’ It is estimated that the full cost of the investigation exceeded £5,000, including wages and travel expenses The TaxPayers’ Alliance also criticised the expense. Campaigns chief Robert Oxley said: ‘It’s ludicrous that North Tyneside council has wasted money on an Orwellian investigation into a simple, and perfectly legitimate, tweet. ‘Councillors should be allowed to express an opinion, that’s what we elect them for after all. This appears to be a spurious complaint that should not have been allowed to consume so much council time and money.’ A spokesman for the council confirmed at least £5,000 was spent on the investigation. She added: ‘The council has an agreed procedure, in line with national guidance, that it must investigate any complaints in relation to breaches of the code of conduct by any member. ‘We received a complaint and, in view of the allegation made, agreed it was important that an independent investigation was carried out into this matter. ‘That investigation culminated in the hearing this week. After giving full consideration to the evidence, the panel decided on a majority basis that councillor Allan was not in breach of the code of conduct.’ She said the council had engaged an independent agent to conduct the investigation.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman paid £5,4422.29 to Hexham Constituency Conservative Association

Hexham MP Guy Opperman paid £5,442.29 to Hexham Constituency Conservative Association. Mr Opperman said the office was rented by the party from a private landlord to act as a local headquarters, and space was sub-let to him, meaning all his rent went to the landlord.

Lib Dem councillor in Northumberland has been kicked out of his party after refusing to join its county group

Northumberland County Councillor kicked out of his party 19 Oct 2013 Journal A councillor in Northumberland has been kicked out of his party after refusing to join its county group Councillor Ian Lindley A councillor in Northumberland has been kicked out of his party after refusing to join its county group. Northumberland County Councillor for Morpeth Stobhill, Ian Lindley, has had national membership of the Liberal Democrats revoked at the instigation of the party’s regional branch for not joining its group on the authority. The councillor last night voiced his anger at the move, claiming another member had been allowed to act as a non-aligned Lib Dem and accusing the party of seeking to remove him to prevent him standing as a candidate in the fight to replace MP Sir Alan Beith. Coun Lindley, who joined the party in 2006, was first elected to the county council in 2008, serving on its executive as the Lib Dems formed the authority’s administration. He held his seat at May’s elections despite the party being ousted from power. Shortly afterwards Coun Lindley chose to withdraw from the party group, in protest at the fact it chose to retain the leadership which oversaw the election defeat. The councillor recently faced criticism for producing a newsletter featuring suspected terrorist Abu Qatada. Now, it has emerged Coun Lindley has had his national party membership revoked. Regional branch chairman Ian Jones last night said his departure from the party’s county group was in breach of its constitution. However, Coun Lindley queried how Rothbury county councillor Steven Bridgett had been allowed to remain a Lib Dem for five years despite not being part of the party’s council group. He claimed the moves to have his membership revoked began after he asked to see documents about the party’s selection of its candidate to fight the Berwick seat at the 2015 general election, with Sir Alan to stand aside. Coun Lindley, who stood for the Lib Dems at North Durham in 2010 and was therefore an approved candidate, claimed the party did not want the “opposition.” He claimed he may stand at Berwick in 2015 as an independent. Coun Lindley told how he had knocked on thousands of doors campaigning for the Lib Dems and had recruited three new members who have since been elected as town councillors in Morpeth. He said he would be continuing to work with them and producing a joint newsletter, but not under the Lib Dem banner. Coun Lindley, who undertook party leadership training in 2008, said: “If they had not expelled me, I would not be staying.” A party spokesman said the rule about non-aligned members had been in place a number of years but that local groups may not have been aware of it. He claimed Coun Bridgett’s party membership had lapsed although the councillor refuted this

That's rich: Tory MP says he felt zero hours contract pain - as a £250-an-hour barrister

Daily Mirror- Saturday 19 October

That's rich: Tory MP says he felt zero hours contract pain - as a £250-an-hour barrister 19 Oct 2013 00:00 Guy Opperman's comments sparked disbelief as opponents say he has proved the Tories are out of touch with low-paid workers Are you sure?: Hexham MP Guy Opperman. A Tory MP claims he knows what life on a “zero hours” contract is like – because he experienced it as a £250-an-hour barrister. Guy Opperman, 48, earned the huge rate representing clients in court before he was elected. But rich Mr Opperman said he understands the plight of those staff who are employed under the contracts – for almost universally low wages – because barristers are not guaranteed work. He told fellow MPs: “As a former barrister, I was unquestionably on a zero hours contract in that I was an employee whose employer was not obliged to give work.” The remarks, in a Commons debate on the contracts, met with disbelief from colleagues. Staff on the deals have no idea of their hours or pay from one week to another. Many feel unable to take on other jobs or study for qualifications for fear of missing badly needed work, Labour’s Alison McGovern told the MP for Hexham in Northumberland. Mr Opperman, educated at £33,000-a-year Harrow School, insisted his lucrative legal job meant he can identify with that. “As a barrister, I spent two-and-a-half years without a contract,” he said. “I therefore suggest I do have some experience of that, with no contract whatsoever.” Wirral South MP Ms McGovern yesterday said his remarks show how Tories fail to grasp the reality of austerity Britain. “I’d love him to tell low-paid care workers on zero hours that their lives are like a barrister’s, she said. “Perhaps he can bring his gown and wig just to show how out of touch these Tories are.” Zero hour contract workers earn half as much as full-time staff, according to a recent study. Those with no guarantee of work or hours are paid on average £236 a week, compared with £482 for those on traditional terms, said the Resolution Foundation. Business Secretary Vince Cable has ordered a review amid fears workers are being exploited. This week he was forced to ask number-crunchers to look again at the figures because of fears the Government does not have a proper handle on the problem. Up to a million workers are on zero hours deals, say independent estimates – four times the official figures. The register of MPs’ interests states Mr Opperman stopped working as a barrister when elected in 2010 – and still gets fees for duties before then. It adds that until then “no hourly rate was agreed but all [were] between £100 and £250 per hour save where specified”.

Liberal group are in decline on Northumberland County Council

'It's clear that Jeff Reid and his increasingly fractured Liberal group are in decline, now they've snubbed a motion which saw Northumberland County Council make a historic decision to stop using any resources to promote payday loan companies.

Allan Hepple @allan_hepple County Council have banned payday lenders from their websites. Unanimous? Not quite as 2 Lib Dems didn't support it-Jeff Reid being one

Been reported on Facebook that not all County Councillors suported the motion on payday lenders two did not wonder why ? Allan Hepple @allan_hepple County Council have banned payday lenders from their websites. Unanimous? Not quite as 2 Lib Dems didn't support it-Jeff Reid being one, and D Watkins

We Remember when Jeff called his home town a Dump / CC Lindley lives in Rothbury about 15 miles away from Morpeth in the Coquet Valley according to NCC WEB SITE

From the party that gave you 'Blyth is a dump' (Jeff Reid, Liberal Democrat Leader), the sequel - Morpeth residents are 'western dogs' (Ian Lindley, Stobhill councillor in Morpeth exiled to Rothbury). Is no community in Northumberland safe from the Liberal Democrats? What will they say about Berwick? Will Cramlington be next in line for the latest Lib Dem 'shocker'? It's time the Liberals learned to 'LOVENORTHUMBERLAND' not talk it down. We say the Ian Lindley and Northumberland's 'il-liberal democrats' need to apologise for his crass, insensitive and arrogant words. Why is it that 'sorry is the hardest word' for Ian Lindley and his colleagues?

Contact Details Address: 12 Simonside View, Rothbury, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7YQ Telephone 01670 622619

Grant Davey, leader of the council’s ruling Labour group, last night said: “Coun Lindley should really know better.

Brian Daniel, Journal 24 Sept 2013 Northumberland County Councillor under fire over Qatada reference Northumberland County Councillor Ian Lindley has come under fire after featuring terror suspect Abu Qatada in a newsletter Councillor Ian Lindley A councillor in Northumberland came under fire last night after issuing a newsletter featuring terror suspect Abu Qatada. Northumberland County Councillor for Morpeth Ian Lindley produced the leaflet which includes comments supposedly from Qatada about issues in his Stobhill ward. The Liberal Democrat was last night accused by political opponents of being crass and showing a lack of judgement, while there were calls for him to apologise to the people of Morpeth. However, Coun Lindley insisted Qatada’s inclusion was a joke and accused his opponents of political point scoring. Coun Lindley, who represents the Morpeth with Stobhill division, published and promoted the September issue of the Morpeth Stobhill Lib Dems’ Focus residents’ newsletter. A picture of Qatada is accompanied a short piece under the headline “Abu Qatada writes from Qatar.” It says: “I hear developers are targetting Stobhill for large scale ‘Executive Housing’. “This makes me chortle, Western Dogs, and takes my mind off my own minor problems. Will the Telford Bridge seize up? Will you build the Stobhill-Loansdean link road?! What larks!” Grant Davey, leader of the council’s ruling Labour group, last night said: “Coun Lindley should really know better. “His comments in a leaflet were crass and show a distinct lack of judgement. “After his leader’s objectionable comments about Blyth, now we’ve got Coun Lindley referring to the residents of Stobhill as ‘western dogs’. “It’s clear Coun Lindley and his party owe Morpeth an apology.” The Journal has seen an email sent by a man who works in a Northumberland school, who asked not to be named, expressing outrage at Coun Lindley’s newsletter. It says: “I was completely dismayed by the appearance of the text that appeared in the Liberal Democrats’ residents newsletter which popped through my door this evening... “There’s multiple problems with this piece of absolute tosh. “What is the point of this lazy, crass and indeed humourless article? I just don’t get it. It really is not funny in the slightest? ‘Western Dogs?’ What’s all that about?.. “I’m really sorry but I find it totally unacceptable that the party that is an indirect descendent of the political organisation of that great Liberal, David Lloyd George, would even think about publishing such intolerant rubbish. “If this was a residents’ newsletter from UKIP undersigned by Nigel Farage or indeed by the odious Tommy Robinson of the EDL, I would sneer and bin the newsletter without further thought. “But the Liberal Democrats? Come on, is this how low the party and Liberal Democrat councillors in my area have sunk to. Really? I despair, I really do.” Yet Coun Lindley, who stands as an indpendent Lib Dem, responded: “It is just intended to be a bit of light hearted jest.” He said it was intended as an “amusing” way of communicating, with the newsletter also featuring a joke about potholes. The councillor revealed every issue features comment by a world figure about Stobill issues, with the previous edition including North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un. Of Labour’s comments, he added: “If they do not like it that is fine. They can print what they like in theirs, I would not take issue. “If they find that a problem I would be interested in hearing why. At the end of the day, humour is a matter of personal taste. “I am not really bothered if they find it unfunny or what, it is just a joke. “I am sure they might find other people’s attempts at humour funny. “There is lots of stuff I find in the Labour party (newsletters) I do not find funny. “It is just cheap political point scoring. I think it is pretty desperate stuff. “It is just an attempt to make trouble I think.” Qatada was sent to Jordan in July after fighting an eight-year battle against deportation from the UK. The 53-year-old is to stand trial for terror offences.

Gateshead MP Ian Mearns – questioning whether it had been set up by Mrs Trevelyan

Northumberland Tory parliamentary candidate orders removal of her "MP" Twitter account 9 Aug 2013 00:00 Tory supporters in Twitter blunder after Berwick MP's decision to retire Share on printShare on email Conservative candidate Anne Marie-Trevelyan's chances of taking the Berwick seat at the next election have been boosted by Sir Alan Beith's decision to retire - but it is not a done deal A Conservative candidate in Northumberland ordered the removal of a Twitter account which referred to her as an MP. Anne Marie-Trevelyan, who will look to take control of the Berwick seat at the next general election, said she had acted as soon as she was informed of the account in her name under the title AnnieTrevMP. Mrs Trevelyan said the page – set up just hours after sitting MP Sir Alan Beith announced he would be retiring at the next election – had been the work of “exuberant” young supporters. The account had sparked debate on Twitter with users – including Gateshead MP Ian Mearns – questioning whether it had been set up by Mrs Trevelyan. The page, which carries the candidate’s name, her photograph and website address, began tweeting on July 18. On August 2, it featured one tweet identical to a posting on Mrs Trevelyan’s account AnnieTrev. Mr Mearns tweeted: “Is it a real account or someone else making it up? If true a tad presumptuous?” Users then reported the removal of the page on Wednesday. When contacted by The Journal yesterday, Mrs Trevelyan said she been unaware of the account until she was alerted to it by email on Wednesday. She then discovered the page had been set up by a band of her “exuberant” young supporters, “messing about on the internet” out of “youthful enthusiasm”. Mrs Trevelyan said she had instructed the creators to remove the account immediately. She added it had not been “helpful”. Mrs Trevelyan said it had been “a little bit premature” to refer to her as an MP but added: “I would like to say that one day I will be able to have a Twitter account like that.” Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats in Berwick are beginning the process of finding a replacement for Sir Alan, who announced on Wednesday that he will not be seeking re-election in 2015. Sir Alan had a majority of 2,690 at the last election, with a number of those likely to have been personal votes built up during his 42 years as the constituency’s MP. Returning officer Doreen Huddart revealed the party hopes to name Sir Alan’s replacement within “a couple of months”. The process will see an advert placed in party publications, followed by consideration of applicants and interviews by a selection panel. A shortlist will then be produced by the panel ahead of a ballot during a meeting where all paid-up party members can vote. Mrs Huddart said the process normally lasts eight to 15 weeks. He said: “Because it will be a seat of significant interest it may take the 15 weeks. There is an incumbent, that always adds interest to it.”

The Conservative party in Berwick is split down the middle. It seems you're either in Anne Marie Trevelyan's camp or not. Can a local party 'de-select' one of 'Cameron's cuties' or will the 'border war' rumble on?

Row deepens as Tories step down in North Northumberland

Journal Letters 26 July 2013

Views

Two years is one short of maximum

Letters

THROUGH your columns, may I correct Mrs Trevelyan (“Row deepens as Tories step down”, The Journal, July 22)? The Berwick Conservative Association Constitution & Rules (paragraph 5.5) allows individuals to hold office for three consecutive years.

I was elected as association chairman at the association's annual general meeting in March 2011 to serve for 12 months, and re-elected to the same position at its AGM in March 2012 to serve for another 12 months.

I find it hard to reconcile these facts with Mrs Trevelyan's remark that I had almost served my maximum term of three years and that it was not my “divine right” to receive another term.

I would therefore commend a better understanding of the rules to her. As for “not thinking on the same wavelength” as Mrs Trevelyan, or her nominee for chairman, while she knows that I had the privilege of leading a united and hard-working management team during my two years as chairman (and before we all declined to stand again at the March 2013 AGM), perhaps she forgets that it was at her personal request that I became involved in the association when she asked me to become her campaign fund director in the run-up to the 2010 general election.

JOHN W RAE, Chairman,

 Berwick Upon Tweed Conservative

Association, March 2011 - March 2013,

via email

He also draws attention to comments attributed to Haltwhistle business chief, Gary Lydiate, who has given more than £200,000 who was on the same trip who said: "When you're travelling with a high-level delegation led by the prime minister, you get to see the right decision-makers."

Labour MP slams Northern Tory donor ‘cash for access claims’

‘MP backs Labour leader quest to clean up politics’

From Ronnie Campbell MP

Labour MP Ronnie Campbell has attacked what he called ‘Tory smears’ over labour’s links with trade unions and focussed attention on Tory ‘cash for access’ donations.

Mr Campbell said

‘The sheer cheek of the Tories knows no bounds. Cameron and his cronies have tried to make political capital over trade union funding of Labour – while dipping their own snouts into a slush bucket topped up by millionaires, vested interests, dodgy entrepreneurs and big business.’

The MP claims that the Tory party links to outside interests are there for the public to see as David Cameron met several key donors on his recent visit of Kazakhstan including the chief executive of UK oil and gas firm Petrofac, who has given the Tories nearly £300,000 in the past three years.

He also draws attention to comments attributed to Haltwhistle business chief, Gary Lydiate, who has given more than £200,000 who was on the same trip who said: "When you're travelling with a high-level delegation led by the prime minister, you get to see the right decision-makers."

Mr Campbell went on to say

‘Maybe Tory links to big business might explains the government’s latest U-turns on tobacco packaging and alcohol pricing. Both industries have strong Tory connections and have a voice at Cameron’s top table.’

Labour claim that this amounts to influence which can be seen in government policy. In 2006 Cameron opened a factory in India for JCB. Company chairman, Sir Anthony Bamford also joined Cameron on a subsequent trade mission to India along with representatives of textiles firm J&H Sales, which has given the Tories almost £200,000 since 2010.

Mr Campbell said

‘The Tory claim that the unions “own” the Labour party – which after all grew from the trade union movement – is pretty rich from a party owned by millionaires.

I’m proud that Labour retains its links with ordinary working people. The Tories are bankrolled by the rich and infamous whose top priority is to keep the workers at the bottom of the pile’.

 Notes for Editors

1.       Since 2010 they have poured £45 million into Conservative coffers – and that’s just the ones we know about.

2.       Company and individual business donations make up just 3 per cent of donations to Labour and the vast majority of those to the Conservatives.

3.       Individual donations to the Tory Party account for £27.9m. It has been given 1,398 since the election (Labour has clocked up 230).

4.       Donors who drop more than £50,000 are invited into The Leader’s Group – and get to meet David Cameron and other senior Tories at dinners, lunches and drinks parties.

5.       61 people have made a one-off donation– but the party has received a further 141 donations of more than £50,000 – with people donating two, three, four or more times.

6.       The biggest individual donor is Michael Farmer – who has made eight donations totalling £2,191,392.42. He founded the hedge fund RK Capital Management and made his fortune in the international metal markets.

7.       Then comes property multi-millionaire David Rowland who made a one-off donation of £1,277,936.32.

8.       Then there’s May Makhzoumi – the wife of the billionaire Fouad Makhzoumi who was at the centre of the Jonathan Aitken arms scandal – who has donated £908,000.

9.       And then there are former Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas, South African born mining magnate Michael Davis and former Man Group hedge fund boss Stanley Fink – who have donated £723,000, £712,000 and £692,841 respectively.

10.   The biggest company donor by far is JCB Research – which has donated a total £1.4m since the election. Others include mobile phone group Lycamobile with £343,442 and city investment group Flowidea with £315,950.

11.   Others who have enjoyed access to the PM the staffs of a Bestways Cash and Carry, who were treated to a Q&A with the Tory leader in 2010. Their employer has given more than £200,000 to the Tories in the past three years.

12.   Midland Chilled Foods gave the Tories £10,000 in February this year. The company is owned by Peter Shirley, a member of the Midlands Industrial Council which has funnelled hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Tories and whose backers include Chris Kelly, whose company, Keltruck, is a global distributor for Scania lorries.

13.   A recent poll showed more people (56%) are concerned about Tory links to donors than they are with Labour's to the unions (48%). YouGov

Infighting has hit the Conservative party in Northumberland leading to a series of resignations

Row deepens as Tories step down in Northumberland

22 Jul 2013  Journal

Infighting has hit the Conservative party in Northumberland leading to a series of resignations

Tory councillor Bruce Hewison

The Conservatives in Northumberland have been rocked by a series of resignations amid in-fighting over its leadership.

The Journal has reported how Tory councillor and local branch chairman Bruce Hewison is severing links with the party – and may run for parliament as an independent, in protest at its management at local level. Now, it has emerged that his resignation was part of a wider walkout in the county.

Coun Hewison, a Tory party member, member of Alnwick Town Council, chairman of the Alnwick and Alnmouth branch of the Berwick Conservative Association, and a member of the association’s executive council and management team, said he had quit the association at the executive council’s annual general meeting in March.

His resignation as an Alnwick representative was in protest at a move by the party’s Berwick parliamentary candidate Anne-Marie Trevelyan to nominate Aidan Ruff as association chairman, despite the incumbent John Rae having only served two years in a post most people hold for three. Mr Ruff was appointed.

Now, it has emerged that his departure was part of a mass walkout which saw all other management team members standing down, with six resigning and one retiring.

Mr Rae; Coun Hewison’s wife Jeanette, deputy chair of fundraising and membership; Karen Thorburn, deputy chair political from Berwick; and Steven Purvis, Northern representative from Berwick have all confirmed to The Journal they resigned in protest at the same issue.

Mrs Thorburn said her husband Keith, member for Conservative Future, had also resigned.

Mr Rae, a Tory party member for 45 years, told The Journal: “One of the unwritten rules is the prospective parliamentary candidate does not interfere with the running of the association. It must be allowed to run itself.”

He said the nomination of Mr Ruff came “very regrettably” amid what had become a “fairly fraught relationship” between Mrs Trevelyan and the management team. “The management team took that as an attack on their integrity and decided it was not going to be possible to work with her.”

Mrs Trevelyan said she had been approached by Mr Ruff about his becoming chairman and had been happy to nominate him, as she was democratically entitled to.

She claimed Mr Rae had almost served his maximum of three years and that it was not his “divine right” to receive another.

Mrs Trevelyan said it seemed a “logical” time for a change as Mr Ruff’s maximum three years would see him as chair up to and beyond the general election.

Of Mr Rae’s claim that she was interfering in the running of the association, Mrs Trevelyan responded: “I do not run the association but I am a member and I am entitled to nominate anyone who might ask me to.”

Asked about his suggestion of a fraught relationship with the management team, she conceded only that Mr Rae “probably would not think on the same wavelength as Aidan and I do.”

From around the web

Has Ann given the game away ?

Tory PPC for Berwick, Anne Marie Trevelyan has given the game away. So scared of the looming UKIP challenge to their chances in Berwick in 2015, they now turn a blind eye to their top donors such as Lord and Lady Vimson bunging UKIP £10,000 donation.

As the Tories fragment and fall victim to the siren voices of UKIP, it seems all Anne Marie Trevelyan can do is to sit on the sidelines and watch her support and their donations disappear to fund a UKIP challenger against her in 2015. Desperate times for Northumberland Tories

New job for Peter Jackson Hexham Town Centre Manager ??

Tynedale: Out of step

Letters to Hexham Courant

Published at 07:36, Wednesday, 05 June 2013

‘MARXIST state will hinder Tynedale’ and ‘Call for town manager to put pride back in Hexham’, (Courant, May 17, 2013).

Now the Tories are the underdogs at county council level again, Coun. Peter Jackson accuses the newly elected Northumberland County Council of ‘creating a one-party Marxist state’, and he chooses to align himself with the Liberal Democrats. How kind!

Perhaps I can reassure him; he could move over to Hexham where the usual Tory autocracy reigns supreme. Coun. Terry Robson is now Hexham’s mayor, county councilor, town councilor, and at their first meeting of this regime, the five minute slot allocated for the town council to ‘hear from Hexham’s residents’ was missing from the agenda.

Also at this meeting, Coun. Robson proudly waved a blue ‘non-agenda item’ the so called ‘retailers’ 10 point action plan’, which reads out remarkably like a proposal for action on issues the retailers have been campaigning for ‘In Hexham; for Hexham’ long before Guy Opperman MP even appeared on the scene.

Hexham continues to be out of step with 21st century changes that are happening elsewhere in Northumberland.

If Hexham’s Conservative MP, Mayor, three county councilors, and 10 town councillors secure funding for a Hexham Town Centre Manager that would be amazing.

Coun. Peter Jackson could apply for the job and would no doubt welcome being unhindered by any democratic opposition.

Then the politicians could all sit back and rest on their laurels, as usual, with somebody else to blame for the demise of economic activity in Hexham.

BARBARA GRUNDEY,

Hexham

TORY stronghold Tynedale will be left out in the cold as Northumberland becomes a one-party “Marxist” state, according to a leading councillor.

Marxist state will hinder Tynedale’

By BRIAN TILLEY btilley@cngroup.co.uk

Published at 07:37, Wednesday, 22 May 2013

TORY stronghold Tynedale will be left out in the cold as Northumberland becomes a one-party “Marxist” state, according to a leading councillor.

Leader of the Conservative group in the last council, Heddon’s Peter Jackson, fears the worst after a power-sharing deal was confirmed this week between the 32 Labour members and the three independents on Northumberland County Council.

The support of the independents will give Labour a slender majority of just three over the other parties.

The smuggest smile at County Hall is on the face of Stocksfield’s Anne Dale, whose reward for supporting Labour is understood to be restoration to the position she held before being dropped by the Tories – chairman of audit – while the rest of her former group are left in the political wilderness.

It’s not even certain that the chairmanship of the west area committee – made up of all 17 councillors from the west – will go to one of the 12 Tory members.

Bywell’s Paul Kelly’s price for co-operation is believed to be the chairmanship of the county’s central planning committee, while John Taylor, of Longhoughton, is said to have been rewarded with the chairmanship of the north area planning committee.

However, the decisions will not be confirmed until the first meeting of the new council next Wednesday.

Coun. Jackson predicted the Labour-independent pact would be an extremely unstable one, with every decision “on a knife edge.”

He accused the new regime of creating a one-party state by excluding all Conservative and Lib Dem councillors from the decision making process.

He said: “I am really concerned for the rural areas like Tynedale and the north, because both we and the Lib Dems have been completely shut out.

“Traditionally, the scrutiny of recommendations has been carried out by a committee chaired by an opposition councillor.

“Now we are to have Labour councillors scrutinising Labour recommendations, which is a recipe for disaster.

“It’s the only council I know of which has taken this line.”

He was highly critical of the three independents for “selling out” to Labour, and accused them of letting their electorate down.

He said: “They will be shoring up a Labour administration their electors did not vote for, and did not want.

“It’s a shame for the whole county, as it will now be ruled by what is in effect a communist, Marxist, one party state.”

Labour group leader Coun. Grant Davey, of Blyth, said: “It’s disappointing that the Conservatives have signalled their intent to oppose changes even though the Tories clearly support policies such as free parking and new homes.

“I’m sure residents will conclude that this party political positioning will do the county no good at all.

“It’s sad that they want to play political games in advance of the next meeting of full council but our changes to scrutiny will mean more say in the development of policy, and it should mean less political posturing and better policy.”

He explained that Labour would be introducing a new system of ‘pre-scrutiny’ which would create special boards to scrutinise policy before it got to the executive.

This would replace the “discredited” scrutiny system which introduced too much party politicking into the scrutiny process, and didn’t give enough of a role to back bench councillors.

Coun. Davey explained: “We clearly want to work with all interested parties in the delivery of a Labour manifesto to build at least 1300 affordable homes, maintain first class frontline services designed to support local communities and a policy to work with town councils to deliver free parking across the county, where communities say they want it.

“We want to work with all councillors across the whole county to deliver on our pledges which were supported by over 30,000 voters.

“We would prefer to put party politics to one side as we negotiate difficult times and we think that’s what the residents and businesses of the county would expect of us.

“That’s why we are working with the independent group.”

He said Labour would bring forward plans to tackle the 12,000-plus housing waiting list with the most ambitious housing plan in over 40 years.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk

Information from his blog Neil Bradbury, recent Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate and Northumberland Councillor, keeping people informed of what I'm up to plus random thoughts too!

Stormy times for Northumberland Tories

The Conservative group on Northumberland County Council is experiencing a bit of turbulance of late. In particular their leader, wealthy landowner Cllr Peter Jackson, is facing a lot of criticism from local residents. An application for a controversial wind farm has come through to the council on land that is owned by Cllr Jackson. On 2nd November, Cllr Jackson curiously was reported in the Journal as saying that he knew nothing of the application and that he had no connections to the company applying, Ponteland Green Energy. He said that "I do not want to be seen to be for or against, I want the planning process to take its course and not influence it one way or the other" - very odd considering that if he didnt favour it, one cannot imagine the applicant even bothering to put in an application for it.

Ponteland Green Energy is a very odd company. It was founded as a company on the 11th July 2011, although the details weren't filed at companies house till October. It is a shell company, with one director and shareholder - Louis Fell. He is a surveyor at George F White, who submitted the application. He is also the son of one of the two managing partners of George F White, Hugh Fell. He is the director of 2 family companies as well as the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth and is on the board of Alnwick Sporting Club. The company is registered at the offices of Greaves, West and Ayre (accountants) in Berwick, who coincidentally audit the accounts for the Berwick Conservative party at no cost. Ponteland Green Energy is clearly a shell company set up purely for the purposes of this application. If additional directors have been taken on (its very unlikely to continue for long with only one director) it wont show up for a while.

One thing is for sure. As the land owner, Cllr Jackson will be set to profit massively from a successful development, either by being made a shareholder in Ponteland Green Energy or by being given a share of the profits.

Cllr Jackson was forced to admit in the Journal on 12th November that “it is true that I was contacted by George F White about the possibility of a planning application, ahead of it being submitted However, I was not aware of the details or timescale of the planning procedures, which is what I meant to express previously, albeit imperfectly. I accept that I might have been clearer on this point.”

The application is opposed by the local Town Council (controlled by the Tories), lots of local protestors and civic groups in the town. Many of the protestors have called in the journal on the 1^st December and yesterday for Cllr Jackson to resign as a councilor. They feel he has been dishonest on a very important application in his area. The application is recommended for approval by planning officers and it will be interesting to see if the Conservative councillors on the committee declare an interest by being friends with the land owner. If not then it's clear he's not friends with them, if they do then there may not be many members left on the West area planning committee!

I do think the case shows the difficulties for the Conservatives in Northumberland. A lot of the senior councllors are big landowners and, whilst some senior conservatives like Cllr John Riddle and the Duke are implacably opposed to wind farms others are attracted to the lure of making big money from wind farm applications. There is a lot of tension about this. A motion that was put to council by Conservative deputy leader Glenn Snaderson about wind farms that was broadly critical was withdrawn just before the council at the last meeting at full council and a number of other anti wind farm campaigners on the tory benches have recently become becalmed.

At the same time, the Conservatives have selected their candidates for the local elections in 2013. I am told that a number of high profile councillors have been deselected, causing a lot of of noses to be put out of joint. It wouldn't surprise me if the top Tories on the council lose some of their breezy disposition over the next few months.

Disruption was the name of the game at the new county council’s first meeting yesterday afternoon as the Tories protested against what they saw as a move towards ‘a one-party state’.

Published on 23/05/2013 09:44

Disruption was the name of the game at the new county council’s first meeting yesterday afternoon as the Tories protested against what they saw as a move towards ‘a one-party state’.

Conservative Group leader Peter Jackson repeatedly called for amendments and named votes during the election of councillors to the various senior roles on the council.

It came after the election three weeks ago in which Labour gained more seats than any other party but not an overall majority.

Since then, Labour has agreed a deal with Independent councillors John Taylor, Anne Dale and Paul Kelly to enable it to form an administration.

Coun Jackson proposed a formal amendment on the election of the chairmen to the scrutiny committees, saying they should all come from the opposition.

Calling for the amendment, he referred to some of the Labour members’ ‘Marxist leanings’ and the road towards a ‘Stalinist doctrine’, while also making reference to ‘shady deals’ made by the Labour group and the three Independent councillors.

Coun Kelly described his call for fairness ‘hypocritical’, coming from ‘someone who had broken all the rules’.

But an angry Coun Andrew Tebbutt said that in the hunt for £35million of savings, the Labour group will need as much support as it can get and was going about it the wrong way by not allowing opposition members to serve as the scrutiny heads, as they had under the previous administration.

Alnwick member Coun Gordon Castle, a former scrutiny committee head, pointed out that the chairmen needed ‘a degree of independence and judgement’ and that Labour could have had ‘a much easier ride than you’re going to get now’.

After a lengthy debate, Coun Jackson called for the third named vote of the meeting, which saw the amendment thrown out.

The first vote at the meeting was for a new role, business chairman, to sit in the chair during council meetings.

But Coun Jackson opened with an amendment to defer the decision until more information of the role was provided, claiming that its aim was to ‘create a one-party state in Northumberland’.

He also called for a full named vote, in which each of the 67 members is asked for his vote in turn, on both this motion and the ensuing vote, which saw new Druridge Bay councillor Scott Dickinson elected.

There were groans in the chamber as Coun Jackson called for another named vote on the election of the council’s leader, despite saying that his group recognised that Labour had won the most seats and would not oppose the election of Grant Davey, who won the vote.

Amble ward member Coun Robert Arckless was elected as the policy board member for children’s services.

As reported on the Gazette website, Norham and Islandshires councillor Dougie Watkin fell short in the vote to take over as leader of the Lib Dem group, failing to oust former council leader Jeff Reid by one vote.

Coun Heather Cairns, elected as one of two Alnwick members, was appointed deputy leader of the group.

decision until more information of the role was provided, claiming that its aim was to ‘create a one-party state in Northumberland’.

He also called for a full named vote, in which each of the 67 members is asked for his vote in turn, on both this motion and the ensuing vote, which saw new Druridge Bay councillor Scott Dickinson elected.

There were groans in the chamber as Coun Jackson called for another named vote on the election of the council’s leader, despite saying that his group recognised that Labour had won the most seats and would not oppose the election of Grant Davey, who won the vote.

Amble ward member Coun Robert Arckless was elected as the policy board member for children’s services.

As reported on the Gazette website, Norham and Islandshires councillor Dougie Watkin fell short in the vote to take over as leader of the Lib Dem group, failing to oust former council leader Jeff Reid by one vote.

Coun Heather Cairns, elected as one of two Alnwick members, was appointed deputy leader of the group.

For more from the meeting, visit www.northumberland gazetee.co.uk

Newly-elected Morpeth town councillor Rachel Moore has been suspended by the Conservative Party pending an internal investigation

Morpeth town councillor suspended by her own party

26 May 2013

Newly-elected Morpeth town councillor Rachel Moore has been suspended by the Conservative Party pending an internal investigation

Rachel Moore, a Tory councillor from Choppington who has been suspended by party officials

A newly-elected Tory councillor has been suspended by party officials while a probe is carried out into her conduct.

Rachel Moore won a seat on Northumberland’s Morpeth Town Council at this month’s local government elections after standing as a Tory in the Stobhill ward.

Now – within weeks of taking up her new role in public life – she has been suspended by the party pending the investigation into allegations made against her.

Officials at the Morpeth and Wansbeck Conservative Association have refused to say exactly what the probe will look into.

However, it has emerged that last year Ms Moore was given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates after being charged with offences under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

She pleaded guilty at South East Northumberland Law Courts in Bedlington to two counts of producing a false prescription .

It is understood that, following Ms Moore’s election to the town council, her court conviction was revealed in an anonymous letter to local Conservative officials.

Questions have been asked about whether she is a suitable person to be representing the local community in Stobhill – and allegations made about her behaviour.

Tory officials have insisted they knew nothing of the background when she was selected to stand as their candidate against five Liberal Democrat rivals in the five-seat Stobhill ward.

Despite her suspension, Ms Moore, who lives in Greenfield Drive, Choppington near Ashington, is continuing with her role as a Morpeth town councillor.

Speaking from her home she declined to comment on the court case or her suspension, but confirmed she remains a councillor.

One Morpeth resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I believe those who voted for Ms Moore on May 2 are unaware of her true character, and were this to become known she certainly would not have been elected to such a prominent position representing our town.

“I am shocked that the local Conservative Party does not have more rigorous procedures to vet its candidates, and I hope they put such procedures in place in the future.”

He claims her personal situation makes Ms Moore “totally unfit for office.”

One Tory insider said: “Things have been raised subsequent to the council elections which give us serious concerns. We go through a selection procedure with candidates but, unfortunately, some things slip through the net.”

Richard Wearmouth, chairman of the Morpeth and Wansbeck Conservative Association, said: “I can confirm that Rachel Moore has been suspended pending an investigation by the party into matters which have been raised with us.”

He said officials were not aware of the matters when Ms Moore was selected as a candidate. Gillian Turner, clerk to Morpeth Town Council, said she was unaware of Ms Moore’s suspension by the Tories, and she was continuing to work as a town councillor. She added: “Since being elected she has attended our annual meeting and our mayor-making ceremony.”