Reform Councillor Questions Checks On Ed Blake’s Past After ‘Incompetent’ Jibe

A Reform UK councillor has challenged the Isle of Wight Conservative leader over comments describing his party as “incompetent”.

Cllr Reuben Loake has questioned what checks were carried out before Cllr Ed Blake was selected as a Conservative candidate for the 2023 Isle of Wight Council elections.

Cllr Blake was prosecuted for public order offences in 2017, receiving a conditional discharge and being ordered to pay costs.

The current leader of the Conservative group at County Hall had criticised Reform after the party’s local government leader, Ben Bradley, accidentally sent internal policy and guidance documents to independent and Conservative Isle of Wight councillors.

Cllr Blake told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the mistake showed “just how incompetent the party is”.

He said Conservative candidates had their competence assessed before being allowed to stand, giving him confidence that he could act properly in residents’ interests.

Cllr Loake has now asked what vetting took place before Cllr Blake became a Conservative candidate, given his previous conviction.

The 2017 case related to an incident at Ventnor Haven Fishery in September 2016.

The court heard Cllr Blake became agitated during a visit by two Marine Management

Organisation officers, swearing and making threats before barging past one of them as he left.

It was also heard he was under considerable stress at the time and that his actions were out of character.

He received a conditional discharge, along with £85 in costs and a £20 surcharge.

Cllr Blake said the incident happened when he was 23, was already in the public domain, and that he had apologised and disclosed it at every stage.