Alec Robertson ousted and Jim Currie voted in as new leader

12:28pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Cornwall Photograph of the Author By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

The leader of Cornwall Council, Alec Robertson, has been removed from his post following a vote of no confidence today.

Councillors have voted for Conservative Jim Currie, the former deputy leader of the council before his resignation last week, to take the hot seat - leaving privatisation plans at the council in disarray.

Mr Robertson was ousted by secret ballot with 63 votes in favour of the motion to remove him and 49 votes against.

Councillor Bob Egerton, openness and transparency champion, proposed the leader’s removal following his decision to push ahead with the part-privatisation of council services against the wishes of the majority of council members.

In an extraordinary meeting of Cornwall Council today (Tuesday), called to discuss Mr Robertson’s future, Mr Egerton said: “The constitution allows the leader and the cabinet a great deal of discretion to make decisions on behalf of the council.

“However, if a significant number of backbenchers feel that the leader has gone too far in exercising his discretion then we do have this option, within the constitution, of calling for the removal of the leader.”

Mr Robertson was compared to famously ill-advised tenth century English monarch “Ethelred the Unready” at the meeting and Liberal Democrat councillor for Penzance east, Ruth Lewarne, weighed in saying the proposed privatisation of council services would “see Cornwall sold down the river.”

Last week, after the no confidence vote had been tabled, Mr Robertson backtracked on his initial comments saying he would respect the whole council’s decision at a vote to be held on October 23 – a full seven days after the vote on his future.

To this, Mr Egerton said: “What he seems to be saying is that having led us up the hill and shown us what he considers to be the Promised Land, if we don’t like the look of it he will now lead us back down again.

“I feel that if we want to be lead back down the hill, then we should be led back down by somebody who believes that that’s the right thing to do. Not somebody who has just changed his mind at the last moment.”

Despite passionate support from certain members, including Cornwall councillor for Penryn Mary May and all the portfolio holders led by councillor Julian German, a majority of 14 ousted Mr Robertson at the full vote.

Comments(26)

Gill Zella Martin says...
12:35pm Tue 16 Oct 12

How much can be achieved though with a new leader between now and next years elections. I think all councillors that voted should opt to have their votes recorded, it should never have been a secret ballot, if one believes in something then one should be prepared to stand by their beliefs. Openess and transparency is what Cornwall Council promotes.

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Mike Rigby says...
1:05pm Tue 16 Oct 12

The Conservatives have done the same in Somerset, booting out their unpopular Leader in the hope that they can turn around their fortunes in time for next May's elections. Not convinced it will work......

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Gill Zella Martin says...
2:40pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Cornwall Council needs to change the cabinet system to a committee system.

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Bess Trecoa says...
4:32pm Tue 16 Oct 12

"Jim Currie voted in as new leader".

Well that was a forgone conclusion.

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ucsweb says...
5:01pm Tue 16 Oct 12

It is not a question of what can be achieved more a question of what can be prevented or protected.
We already have a committee system- Cornwall Council. The cabinet should be scrapped. We should not have a dictatorship inside a democracy.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
6:09pm Tue 16 Oct 12

You cannot scrap the cabinet without replacing it with a committee or hybrid etc.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
6:18pm Tue 16 Oct 12

You can register your views for the next governance review.

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steve eva says...
6:29pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Demorcracy that was supposed to be what today was about and why the Leader was removed. Then what did we get the champion for transparency proposing a secret ballot and hiding behind a secret vote.
I tried to have a recorded vote as then the people of Cornwall could make their choice on what was done and said.
I believe if you are of the opinion that you think the Leader needs removing then at least stand up and be counted.
This is a very sad day for Cornwall Council and democracy.

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seacom says...
8:18pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Who is the "champion of democracy" and the reasn for a secret vote is most probably to avoid giving voters view of how their councillor voted.

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seacom says...
9:36pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Gill surely how a councillor votes is not their personal belief alone, surely it should reflect the opinions of their electors.The public do have a right to express their views through their elected representative and therefore who votes either way is irrelevant.Only the result, hopefully reflecting the electorates opinion at the end matters.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
10:07pm Tue 16 Oct 12

seacom a councillor cannot necessarily vote according to their electors opinions as their electors could quite well hold different opinions.

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seacom says...
10:48pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Then as today shows a majority of opinions would guide a councillor on which way to vote.I believe they call this democracy.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
10:57pm Tue 16 Oct 12

How do you know what the majority of opinions are from the public throughout the county, how many people signed the petition and how many people are in the county.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
11:04pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Changing the leader is not going to alter the voting system for future votes all the time there is a cabinet system, it was ultimately the decision of the cabinet that voted for privatisation, or joint venture or whatever you care to call it.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
7:23am Wed 17 Oct 12

Well done to those cabinet members that have stood down from the cabinet and are standing by their principles.

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road_hogg says...
7:09pm Wed 17 Oct 12

So you can resign, yet then be voted in as new leader?

Also, it looks like it was just 1 vote that gave the backing to the 'ousting', all it needed was 1 councillor not to have turned up and I presume the 62 would mean he stayed in? If my maths are correct as well, I make it 10 councillors didn't vote, or turn up to the meeting.

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CousinJack says...
7:49pm Wed 17 Oct 12

I think we should praise Cllrs Hicks and German for showing the conviction of their positions, this is most unusual in UK politicians these days. Unsurprisingly they are independents, and not suffocated by poarty machinations. They seem to have the best interests of Cornwall at heart

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seacom says...
10:25pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Pity that independants stood down as they are truly independants ,though two more should replace them.As for the petition, if more councillors bothered to hit the streets they may have an idea of their electors opinion and not solely their own on which to decide on this matter.

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steve eva says...
12:09pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Mr Pascoe I have read you comment and can I make it quite clear where I stand as an Independent.
I joined the council as an Independent and it is true we for reasons of sitting on committees only joined up with the Conservatives in making decisions I was and always will be an Independent.
I have already given notice that if the Conservatives as a ruling party support Cllr Currie and the Independent Group back them I will
resign from the Independent Group. This is no threat this is a promise.
I can not be a part of a coalition who did not back this leader and than as a coalition continue to support him as our Leader. He was put in place by the Lib Dems and MK and a hand full of Councillors who ignored the candidate the coalition put forward. The Lib Dems want too stay in opposition to the Cabinet and the Leader they put in power.
Can it possibly get any more farcical than this.
I am waiting for the outcome of the Conservative meeting to see if Cllr Currie is kicked out of their party and then the decision of the Independents and if the farcical situation remains I will resign from the coalition as stated earlier.

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Bert Pascoe says...
1:12pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Many thanks Mr Eva for making your honourable position absolutely clear, and I congratulate you.

I think it is important that some councillors realise what a complete self centred fiasco this is, and like you I hope the Conservatives throw this Jim Curry out of their party. he is an absolute disgrace to anyone who has the slightest shred of integrity.

A lot of Cornish people are disgusted by what happened on Tuesday. It was a purely Lib Dem political power play, supported by a few simple independants who see Cornwall Council as a meal ticket and nothing else. And Cornwall suffers.

I have just read another article from Andy Wallace, who complains he has been rumbled. No doubt he will be voting for the 35% pay increase.

The voters will not forget, I can assure you.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
3:32pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I said all along I believed that Alec Robertson was being removed for the wrong reasons and that it was politically motivated. It was so blatantly obvious when Cllr Currie resigned from the cabinet what was about to follow. Not all public are all naive.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
8:38pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I thought I heard Cllr Currie say on local radio that he would not be standing for election next year. If I am right, what was the point in electing him in as there will be absolutely no chance of any continuity. Incidentally I hope he dosn't stand for election next year, he should never in my opinion have been elected in.

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molesworth says...
6:34pm Sat 20 Oct 12

It's becoming painfully clear that nearly all the people in any sort of political power are the very people who shouldn't be in political power. Maybe power does corrupt. Maybe I would be tempted to vote myself a 35% pay rise. Actually I never would because I couldn't face my friends if I did and I value my dignity and honesty. I do know what goes around comes around and I can sleep well at night. I am not, nor ever will be, in politics. Imagine dealing with all the unpleasantness day after day?

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seacom says...
4:09pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Councillor Eva will you join one of the other parties.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
8:13pm Sun 21 Oct 12

I would put money on it that Councillor Steve Eva would not jump political ships and join one of the other parties, he is a man of principles.

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steve eva says...
5:39pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Seacom Gills money is extreemly safe I am and will always be an Independent
And so nicely put by Gill a man of principle

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