Monday, 20th May, 2013
United Kingdom Indecisive Party
David Cameron once called them ‘fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists,’ and only the other week Ken Clarke was calling them ‘clowns,’ but the dismissive name-calling has done little to stifle the recent surge in popularity of UKIP. It’s been widespread, and there’s even a suggestion that the ripples have reached Pembrokeshire.
Whether it can be put down to recent events we may never know, but membership of UKIP in Pembrokeshire has received a boost of at least one in the last couple of months, because on 23rd March this year, Cllr. Wynne Evans appended ‘A MEMBER OF UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY’ to his declaration of interests.
However, the same bit of evidence might also suggest that UKIP’s recent recognition is nothing more than a short-lived affectation, because just four days ago the register was updated again. On this occasion, the previous entry – declaring membership of UKIP – was deleted.
You’ll remember that the last Pembrokeshire councillor who had a brief fling with a national party was Cllr. John Davies, whose plans to be selected as the Tory candidate in last November’s inaugural Police and Crime Commissioner election went south. At the time, my sources told me that the ink had barely dried on his application papers to join the Conservative Party, when he grabbed them back as soon as it became apparent that the selection process was not going well.
It would be quite interesting if, during the time Cllr. Evans was a member of UKIP, the party was scouting for a parliamentary candidate to field at the 2015 Westminster elections in either of Pembrokeshire’s swing seats.
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Maybe UKIP candidates will be the rod that breaks the IPPG camel’s back in the next elections!
You haven’t happened to notice that Clr Guy Woodham has recently become a Free Mason?
If you read the local websites, rumour has it that Cllr Peter Stock is looking for a new political home in his role as a county councillor, maybe UKIP is the solution. He is half way there with his Independent Pembrokeshire connections.
I hear on the grapevine that Cllr Woodham, with SRA, stood aside in the Labour party’s parliamentary candidate selection race which Paul Miller won the other day.
I don’t think your information is very good. Cllr. Woodham has recently been on the losing end of the SRA stakes as he used to be Labour’s appointee to the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority (SRA circa £1k) until he was removed by the Labour group leader, Cllr. Paul Miller, for reasons unknown.
In the short interim, Cllr. Miller appointed himself to the post, but I am now told that he has made a permanent appointee in the form of Cllr. Tony Wilcox, who used to sit alongside Cllr. Lee as one of Labour’s two appointees on the National Park. You’ll know that Labour lost one of those Park seats when Cllr. David Bryan joined the Tories, thus nudging the group over the magic number of 3.
Councillor Wilcox on the fire authority? Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse!
In reply to Simply Stunned, there is no smoke without fire…
Why, Simply Stunned? Maybe you know something you ought to share.
Cllr Wilcox will be great on the Fire Authority.
Simply Stunned has no confidence in Tony but his fellow Labour party members have complete confidence in him. Perhaps Tony could reassure us all with his vision of how he sees the Fire Authority evolving over the next few years with the cuts that are surely coming.
It’s quite Simple!
Cllr Pearl Llewellyn (Labour) together with Cllr Brian Hall (Tory Political Plus) voted the downgrading of Haverfordwest Fire Station. Cllr Wynne Evans (Pearl Llewellyn’s choice by the way) voted for the downgrading of Llanelli Fire Station, even though he spoke many times about defending. Oh that sounds very much like Pearl Llewellyn!
What can the taxpayers of Pembs expect Cllr Wilcox to vote to cull? This isn’t some quiet Alma Inn fringe council meeting, we are going to be dealing with the systematic dismantling of the old Dyfed County Fire Brigade.
I have no intention of fanning the flames of Mr or indeed Mrs Stunned being promoted on this forum, however what I will state is that every decision that I am involved in will be made with the best interests (of everyone). As for (quiet) residents meetings held monthly at the Alma, please attend as your views will be more than welcome.
Tony, I would not have put you down as the shy type and I am sure that readers of this website would appreciate you and your fellow county councillors sharing your views with us.
I would suggest that your statement “every decision you are involved in will be made with the best interest of everyone” is an impossible task. No matter how justifiable it would be to downgrade or close fire stations “Simply Stunned” would not agree, if it meant redundancies for firemen and fireladies.
I do believe that if you wish to comment on a statement by a councillor please have the decency to give your name.
Malcolm, I totally agree that it is indeed impossible to please everyone, failed the 11 plus test a while ago now. Therefore a more suitable form of words should have been used.
Mr Calver, I notice that it must really annoy you that people have the cheek to use other names? Who are you to dictate that myself or anyone should ‘leave a name to comment to a councillor’ perhaps you should look around here, this is a blog!
I also think you should address your comment, you’re sounding like a certain someone, what next, never speak or wave at me when I pass?!
As for the kind invite by Cllr Wilcox to the next fringe meeting, I will have to reject, not due to not wishing to communicate face to face, but due to him not representing me, ie, not my patch/town.
P.S. Fanning the flames…very funny indeed. Let’s hope the £6.1 million pumped into the Fire Authority for a much reduced service/vehicles remains a laughing matter. I find reading ‘This is South Wales’ news website keeps my eye on suggestions, decisions and the general goings on of the Fire Authority.
I could not care less if “Simply Stunned” thinks I am annoyed or not. I just think it is discourteous not to identify yourself if you critising anyone for their opinions or decisions. Cllr Wilcox is the elected member for the area, whether you agree with his stand on any subject or not.