Shadow Minister in ‘witch-hunt’ claim
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has weighed into a growing row over the conduct of Tory Cllr Alexander Adams.
In an exclusive interview with Tales from the Town Hall, the Bournemouth East MP, Shadow Minister for Culture Media and Sport, said that Cllr Adams has been the victim of a “witch-hunt” carried out by local media and Liberal Democrat councillors.
Cllr Adams, who represents Queen’s Park and Charminster, was the subject of much attention last July when it was revealed he had interests in property development.
Reports then emerged in early January claiming that Cllr Adams had not attended a council meeting for three months and wasn’t answering his phone or responding to emails.
Last month, senior Tory Mr Ellwood made a surprising intervention into a Tales from the Town Hall investigation concerning Cllr Adams.
In an unsolicited email, he said: “Could I ask if he were a Jew would you say he could not stand as an elected member? If he were gay would you say he should not be able to speak for the community? If not then why do you suggest he cannot stand simply because he has been involved in development?
“Thank you for scaring off future would-be councillors who will now never stand because of the scrutiny you have placed somebody that has done nothing wrong.
Lib Dem Cllr Carol Ainge, who also represents Queen’s Park and Charminster, has publicly criticised Cllr Adams for being involved in an appeal to the planning inspectorate in Bristol about an application refused by Bournemouth council.
But Mr Ellwood says the planning inspectorate has previously told Cllr Adams to “squeeze” more houses into a proposed development space and this was the catalyst for Cllr Adams to stand for election, in an attempt to address bad development.
Cllr Ainge told BourneFree: “When we are elected as councillors I believe we do it to help the residents of our ward but I feel that Alex has let us all down by not appearing, I find this very sad.”
Cllr Adams was not available for comment.
In a second email last month, Mr Ellwood said: “ Alex Adams has had a rough time and has taken it personally. Yet his attendance record is not the worst of any Bournemouth councillor. I understand he has attended about half the meetings, which is far greater than some Lib Dem councillors in the last administration.
“My anger is directed at elements of the media who chose to weave together their own story.”
Lib Dem Cllr Roger West was reported in July to have written a letter of complaint about Cllr Adams to the council’s legal services department and has told BourneFree that Bournemouth has too many councillors.
He said: “In wards in which it is thought that the possibility of success is not great, then a ‘paper candidate’ is selected.
“This is OK possibly but if there is a great unexpected swing then you do get councillors who were not expecting to be elected. This happened to us in 2003 and I think to the Tories in 2007. Hence the Adams affair.”
Speaking to BourneFree two days ago, Mr Ellwood said: “There’s a corrosive element in Bournemouth local politics and the Lib Dem party, and Roger West is at the top of it.”