The new leader of the Isle of Wight Council has justified why he did not pick a cross-party cabinet as the fallout from his decision continues and he looks to move forward.
Cllr Phil Jordan has announced what he hopes will embody the spirit of working together, in ‘cabinet support teams’.
At a meeting today (Thursday), Cllr Jordan will invite all groups on the Isle of Wight Council to work with the cabinet members across four portfolio areas on policy, not to provide scrutiny.
It follows the announcement he made last week on who would serve in his cabinet, which has been heavily criticised by members across the chamber and from Cllr Jordan’s own Alliance group.
Despite calls for a cross-party executive, which Cllr Jordan said he would think about, the cabinet has been described as ‘the same people in different jobs, with virtually no change’, by Cllr Karl Love.
Speaking at the corporate scrutiny committee on Tuesday, Cllr Jordan explained why a cross-party cabinet had not been possible.
He said neither the Liberal Democrats, Labour or Independent Labour councillors wanted cabinet roles, and felt due to his previous “public disquiet” over an arrangement between the Conservatives and Empowering Islanders (EI), he “would not consider” a member of EI in the cabinet.
Cllr Jordan said he had spoken to Cllr Suzie Ellis, the Conservative group leader, before and after making his decision and was told the Tories ‘could not take a role if offered’ as it would require the approval of all group members at County Hall and those in the local Conservative Association.
Cllr Jordan said Cllr Ellis told him “she felt it would be impossible to deliver and they would not accept a cabinet role if offered.”
However, the Conservatives have rebutted Cllr Jordan’s comments and claimed he has not reached out to anyone on the group since the day he was appointed leader.
Cllr Paul Brading, deputy leader of the Conservatives at County Hall, said there had been a discussion between Cllr Ellis and Cllr Jordan before a new leader was chosen, where she said “it would be difficult to accept cabinet positions but thought it was the right thing to do so would look to push it forward if a cabinet position was offered”.
Cllr Brading said no cabinet position had been offered, ‘really disappointingly’ which went against what Cllr Jordan said at full council.
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