Tory civil war over mishandling of traveller sites issue (Haltemprice and Howden)

Tory civil war over mishandling of traveller sites issue

November 5, 2006 11:38 AM

A letter written by the agent of the local Tory MP, to the East Riding Council Tory Leader, expressing 'serious concern' about his disastrous political misjudgement, has recently been published by the Goole Times (Oct 30th). The letter which pulls no punches, fiercely points out the political flaws in their motion to set up six temporary traveller sites in the county. This bitter conflict high-lights the behind-the-scenes civil war raging in the Tory establishment. Clearly local Tories are more interested in fighting each other than in promoting the interests of local residents.

We are quoting the agent's letter in full to avoid any suggestion of quoting out of context. He writes:

Cllr Parnaby,

I am seriously concerned about the headline on page 3 of the Mail 'Were giving sites to travellers' which informs me that we have just voted for up to SIX new traveller sites in the Concord. Whether or not they are permanent will not be the issue, the Lib Dems will seize on the SIX new sites and play the merry hell out it.

The strength of feeling in Willerby against the recent traveller site was incredible and I really think that with this vote we have just secured the re-election of David Nolan and his two colleagues. It was bad enough that the Council decided to merge two popular schools in Willerby and bad enough that our members messed up the playground issue, but those pale into insignificance compared to the traveller issue. It even says that Haltemprice is a location under consideration! We have been successfully outflanked on the right by the Lib Dems. The point I made in my conversation before that Council meeting was that we must not let the Lib Dems steal our clothes and make us look weak.

David Davis is concerned about this issue and has asked me to request that the Council reverse this decision as swiftly as possible by any means it can. Not only does this compromise Willerby and Kirk Ella it also gives the Lib Dems the ability to play this issue in Dale Ward and in Cottingham North where travellers have long been an issue.

Is there any way we can get this decision reversed quickly. Whatever the merits of the issue, the fact is that the Lib Dems will be able to manipulate this in the most politically successful way possible. Mention of new traveller sites, even if for very moral reasons, is so emotive that to even suggest their construction is a political disaster.

Hope to hear from you soon, Cllr A Percy

The publication of this letter is unprecedented and illustrates just how much the Tories are disunited. It shows that local Tory councillors are expected to back the national party line before any consideration of the needs of their residents. They are regarded simply as puppets of the Parliamentary Party. But worst of all it shows that the local Tories totally misunderstood the Lib Dem motion, which asked for a review of Council policy. The aim of this was to see if travellers could be moved on quickly within 24 hours of pitching up illegally and minimise any damage caused.