Conscientious Swansea Councillors

I blogged previously about the ins and outs of Swansea Council- that Lib dem Rob Speht left the ruling group to be able to vote with his 'conscience'. Previous to that, in January this year, an email by Independent Councillor Ioan Richards to group members was leaked to the press, highlighting his eagerness to create 'trench warfare' during meetings in reaction to Tory members' defects from the ruling group, which led to Lib Dem and Independent allies losing key positions, and accompanying salary perks.

At the time, Ioan Richard was in line to become the next Mayor of Swansea. Nevertheless it seems that his support has faltered,( whether this has anything to do with his 'trench warfare' email, I do not know) and Lib Dem Councillor Waller was instead recently elected. Labour Leader David Phillips and Tory Rene Kinzett both blocked Richard's accession to Mayor, but the reasoning for this was merely 'a clash of personalities' according to the man himself.

From the article in the Evening Post on this issue, it seems that Mayor Chris Holley was dismayed by the vote, who interestingly, returns to this obsession with 'conscience' amongst Swansea Councillors:

'Current Lord Mayor, Councillor Holley, said that a number of councillors had given assurances to support Councillor Richard and had not followed that through.

He said: "I think they need to look at their consciences and ask themselves if they have done the right thing."

Coun Rob Speht voted with his conscience on this occasion, that is certain, but I wonder what will happen next in the world of Swansea Council politics.....

Swansea Lib dem Councillor leaves coalition to 'vote with his conscience'

While the Lib dems like to portray themselves as a nice party who never fall out or have any internal issues, it seems that their colleagues in Swansea have burst the bubble, with Landore Councillor Rob Speht deciding to leave the leading coalition due to 'lack of inclusion in decision- making'. The council dealings are tricky to keep up with- what with ex Lib dem and new Tory group leader Rene Kinzett taking the Conservatives out of the coalition, ( something to do with the Assembly election, perhaps, and wanting to shake off associations with the Lib dems?) and a spate of defections here and there.

The Evening Post's article on the issue suggests that Rob Speht was unhappy as he failed to be selected as the Swansea East candidate for the party, but this, according to the man himself is not the case- he didn't even put himself up for selection.

He goes on to emphasise that the people of the area voted for him as a Lib dem, therefore he will now 'vote according to my conscience'. This does make one wonder what the remainder of the lib dems in the coalition base their decisions on if they are not voting according to their conscience already!

The coalition now has just 31 members to a Council of 74 members. Will there be more lib dem defections and movements towards leaving the ruling group, and does this reflect a general feeling of dissatisfaction within the Lib dems, and their lack of vision as a party?