“A victory for openness and democracy” claimed Green councillor Jason Kitcat as the case against him was thrown out by a Tribunal set up to hear the case. Brighton and Hove City Council is said to have spend “thousands” bringing the case, at a time when they are planning millions of Pounds of cuts.
Those councillors who made the initial allegation against Jason (that would be Tory councillor Ted Kemble, supported by Council Leader Mary Mears and Deputy Leader Brian Oxley) and those who sat on the panel (Labour councillor Jeane Lepper and Lib Dem councillor David Watkins) should hang their heads in shame.
Better still, their involvement in this shameful episode, should be made an electoral issue next May.
Not only is there wide support for Jason Kitcat, condemnation of the action taken against him, not least the squandering of public funds for what some may feel has been party political ends, has come from Tory government ministers Eric Pickles and Grant Shapps.
So a great result for Jason Kitcat and for democracy. Councillors should not have undemocratic power to deny political representation to voters, particularly when that representation is provided by those councillors’ political opponents.
So, is the end of the affair. I hope not. There must be full disclosure regarding the waste of public funds. I would also suggest those who took action against Jason Kitcat should consider their suitability to hold specific office within the Council.
Filed under: Council Elections 2011, Politics | Tagged: Brian Oxley, David Watkins, Eric Pickles, Grant Shapps, Jason Kitcat, Jeane Leppr, Mar Mears, Ted Kemble |
Brighton Politics Blog 
An interesting aspect of the Kitcat case is that the LibDems, such as they are, have split over it.
Paul Elgood stated that he is “no fan” of Kitcat, for unspecified reasons, but, as we know, Watkins wanted Kitcat ejected from the Council for six months. Is this why Elgood has, apparently, deselected Watckins as his running mate for the next Election? As it is, I hear that they were always falling out, partly because Watkins refused to do anything in the mornings, for some reason.
[…] Jason’s case was thrown out while Dawn’s has gone quiet (although I may have missed developments during my two month sabbatical in Italy over the summer. […]