There was no 'whip'
It is with a mixture of astonishment and disappointment that we have read of Paul Hopfensperger's claims that a 'whip' was applied by the Conservative group on Suffolk County Council in the debate last year on schools organisation (I've quit the Tories, Bury Free Press, February 15).
For Cllr Hopfensperger to resign from the Conservatives in a fit of pique is one thing, for him to distort the truth is another.
No whip was applied by the Conservative group in the debate on schools organisation. Everyone knows the debate was passionate with many views expressed strongly.
We would expect no different for such a significant issue. Three Conservative councillors actually voted against the cabinet view and one other Conservative councillor abstained. The group and we, as leader and chairman of the group, respected such views and these councillors recognised that there was a free vote.
It is interesting that Cllr Hopfensperger should wait nearly a year to falsely claim such a principle on which to resign.
Jeremy Pembroke, Leader of Suffolk County Council and leader of the Conservative group on Suffolk County Council
Colin Spence, Chairman of the Conservative group on Suffolk County Council
The full article contains 198 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
25 February 2008 9:53 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Bury St Edmunds
