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TDC LEADER HAS LOST ALL CREDIBILITY
The Labour Group on Thanet District Council strongly opposed the election of Cllr Ezekiel as Leader of the Council for a further year. During a “heated debate” at the TDC AGM it was made absolutely clear that the nominee from the ruling Conservative Group did not come anywhere near the standards expected of those in civic office. Genuine debate on Cllr. Ezekiel’s merit or otherwise was regrettably stifled when Cllr. John Watkins was cut short by Tory chairman John Kirby who suddenly informed members that he would not allow matters relating to the recent Standards Board investigation into Cllr. Ezekiel’s behaviour to be discussed. Later, when Cllr. Clive Hart raised a completely different issue concerning unsavory behaviour from Cllr. Ezekiel, which occurred on yet another occasion, the Conservative chairman also stopped him speaking too. Even when Conservative members desperately tried to rally round and defend their ‘damaged’ leader Cllr. Martin Wise found himself stuck for words in mid sentence and finally referred to Cllr. Ezekiel as someone with ‘interesting’ behaviour. Leader of the Labour Group Cllr R Nicholson said, “my Labour colleagues and I firmly believe as civic representatives we must all maintain the highest standards of behaviour. Clearly in light of the findings of the Standards Board of England & Wales, Cllr Ezekiel has not done so. Residents of Thanet look to us to set an example to all when we are in the public eye or representing our area elsewhere. How can we as members of the Council be critical of others when the person chosen to lead and represent the Council has patently failed to act accordingly? The rest of us in Council behave in a sensible and proper manner, we cannot however support the person found to have failed in this task. Cllr Ezekiel’s election is an affront to those who follow and maintain proper standards in public life”. Cllr. John Watkins said “Giving regard to the problems with anti social behaviour nationally, to which significant extra police resources have to be allocated, the deplorable conduct by a senior elected representative was an appalling example to set the youth of Thanet. Having been found by the Standards Board to have breached the code of conduct by failing to treat others with respect and conducting himself in a manner which could bring his office or authority into disrepute, Cllr. Ezekiel has lost all credibility.”
WHAT THE THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL CHAIRMAN DIDN’T WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CONSERVATIVE TDC LEADER
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