'Demoted for principles': Councillor's claim after losing chairmanship of action team

“I know this story is from the archives but I had to comment and say I have never seen in all my years commenting on this site such a blatant load of set-up posts.

If you're going to troll the pages with sockpuppets, at least do it properly. Leave a reasonable amount of time between posts, use different avatars and most of all, try to make it at least look like the posts are written by different people.

I have plenty of training in and experience of identifying plagiarism and I can tell you now that most of these posts were written by the same person. If I had access to anything else this person had written (for example, a blog) it would be very easy to compare and identify who had written these posts.”

“The task of scrutiny is to hold the Cabinet to account. How can the people of the East Riding have any confidence in decisions of the Council when the Leader appoints the people who are supposed to keep him in check. This is scandalous enough but when he gives and withdraws publicly funded allowances as patronage to openly punish members of his group for his own personal political gain, this becomes gross abuse of position on a par with the corruption of the MP¿s expenses. HDM amusing as spats between councillors are, you are missing the real issue here.

Paul Robinson says leaders have the power to appoint chairmen of committees. This should be the job of the Full Council and a matter with is voted upon at the Council¿s AGM. The leader only has the power if his group and then Council concede it to him.

The tax payers of the East Riding have the right to expect the best candidates for the job not ¿yes men¿ making up the leaders payroll loyalty vote. We are after all footing the bill.
Now that we all know how Cllr Parnaby selects his nominees, I wonder how many of the new Conservative Group and more importantly the opposition Councillors will support the blatant cronyism misuse of public money? On Thursday we the voters will have a test of the integrity and calibre of the new Council but of each of the individuals within it.”

“What on earth is happening to the Conservative Party in the East Riding? There are great cracks apearing and no body is asking why. Come on HDM, get to the bottom of this. Why were 10 senior Councillors including Steve Parnaby and half the Cabinet thought to be unfit to represent the Conservative Party? What have they done? Why have those councillors who have spoken out been stripped of responsibilities? You wont have to look fare for the answers as Bill Kane seems to know and has got you off to a good start.
Why is it the HDM seems unable to investigate and get the answers we as residents deserve?

Start asking the questions HDM and expose the truth rather than publishing the spin.”

“I know Paul Robinson is not everyone¿s cup of tea, but his commitment, drive and enthusiasm is second to no other Councillor we have. This is Paul¿s problem he makes most of ¿em look pretty poor. I regularly read his blog and although he doesn¿t represent me directly he seems to do a lot for the area as a whole. I can¿t understand why he says he still supports Parnaby, if I was him I wouldn¿t. Hope he doesn¿t fade away we need Councillors like him.”

“Never have I read such a true statement of affairs, Bill Kane you are spot on.
Pleasure to read.
Parnaby has hit the self destruct button, I bet there is so much panic within the council, bowel movements are now more regular.
Everything the True Blues don't like.
I hope your letter is already at Conservative Headquarters, and is given priority of order.”

“Looking at Cllr Robinson¿s Blog I see a member of Parnaby¿s Cabal posted anonymously suggesting Paul Robinson leave not only the group but the Party. They did not expect their post to be approved - how little they know Paul. I suspect their own position is not held on merit and their anxious need to control and censor any adverse comment make them assume others are as weak. As always, self delusion clouds perception. Anonymous and makes two fundamental errors - mistaking the ¿Group¿ for the ¿Party¿ and the ¿Ruling Clique¿ for the ¿Group
.
Looking at Cllr Robinson¿s voting record he has been open, honest, consistent and entirely loyal to both the Party and the Group. He has have never once been disloyal to the Group, his blog shows he has agreed dispensation under the group rules on each occasion his position differed from the majority. It has to be said that on each of these occasions the group leadership had departed from the Party position. Paul is loyal and active member of the Party and is well respected within the Party to the highest level.

This is more than can be said for the Group Officers for whom Anonymous has chosen to be a mouthpiece. Not one of them has attended conference in recent years. They regularly criticise and act against the party position and policy ( and they feel fit to give lessons in loyalty!) They treat the party as an electoral liability in their ¿East Riding Conservative¿ campaigns even considering the party livery on ¿in-touch¿ communications to be an ¿electoral liability¿. Not one of them has lifted a finger in the marginal seats during the general election. Not one of them helped at the recent by-elections. They have not even fundraised for the party (until their bowels were loosened by the selection process) within their own wards, then association blocked funds being sent to help win marginal seats. There have been complaints of them being defensive and unwelcoming to new members. They ignore the Constitution and their own Group rules - which they see fit to alter to prop up their own by limiting the democratic process. Most of these people only joined the party to become councillors. They have no ¿party¿ credentials other than putting on a blue rosette as a flag of convenience or in controlling their Associations- where it serves their own ends in assuring their reselection. They have lost touch with the reason they are elected representing the council to the electorate not as they should the electorate to the council. This and more was noted by the Approvals Committee of the most senior elected non councillor officials from each of the five constituencies . They in an extremely robust process decreed that each and every one of them were unfit to represent the Party. Although reprieved thorough local cronyism and by portraying a new national party process as a local ¿plot¿ against them rather than facing up to their own considerable shortcomings and the reasons they were thrown out.

The judgement itself remains untested and stands until it is.

It is far to late for these people to attempt wrap themselves in the party banner. They are already known for what they are ( to borrow a phrase) Political Parasites. The actions in retaliation for being kicked of the Party list abuse of position for personal gain . This and Anonymous¿ post just go to demonstrate that the selection committee pronouncement was spot on they are unfit to represent the party and in the case of the group officers they now show themselves unfit to hold public office.

The leading clique demonstrate the classic response of weak leadership a descent into authoritarianism. History shows this always fails. The writing is on the wall ¿ not able control as group of 47 the old guard have no chance with group of 53 with many talented people not susceptible to being bought off. Like all out of touch leaders the foolishly believe their own spin and have ended up creating t”

“You have my sympathy, you did right to stand up to him. Chin up old chap.”

“Parnaby shows himself to be small minded and petty by taking such an action. To lose Paul from the LAT because a tired old man has a personal grudge is ridiculous. Of the entire ERYC council Paul must be very close to the top of the list of EFFECTIVE councillors who REPRESENT their voters. We do not need an army of sycophants willing to pass unworthy resolutions such as paying a voluntary top up to Susan Lockwoods pension pot. Even after the shot across the bows he got from Graham Stuart this was still forced through with only a small number of men of concience within the party (Paul included) objecting.
Do us all a great favour Mr Parnaby and retire before the next election - you harm the county and the conservative party by staying!”

“Removed from your positions for having principles, which is something "LORD OF THE LARDONS" does not have nor does he understand.
To the three of you who lost your portfolio's THANK YOU for the hard work you put in , your efforts where noticed and much appreciated.

PRINCIPLES is something that those who sit on selection committees should read up on.

Cant understand you still wanting to support a bigot as "LORD LARDON"”

“Par***y has just been sitting there too long he would'nt be able to get a job if he was kicked out so he keeps his frightened sheep around him. Keep working hard, we've seen you in action, time for change is coming.”