The people of Thurrock have spoken and finally ejected the lying corrupt Conservative council who put its residents £1.5billion in debt and continually lied and denied any wrong doing but chose not to investigate themselves. Roll on the General Election when we can finally get rid of our useless Liz Truss (who made her a Dame) supporting M.P Jackie Doyle-Price whose husband happened to be the leader of the council at the time...
Labour hold commanding majority on Thurrock Council as Tories lose ten seats.
On a remarkable night at Purfleet's Backstage Centre, the leadership of Thurrock Council dramatically changed hands as the borough's Conservative vote collapsed and the Tories lost ten seats.
Labour picked up eight of them and now have 27 seats - a majority of five.
Independent councillors picked up two Tory seats and also triumphed in Stanford East & Corringham Town, a seat previously won by the Conservatives, but whose councillor Jack Duffin declared himself an independent in the weeks before the elections after losing the Tory whip when he voted against the Conservative budget. There are now nine independent councillors, just four less than the Tories.
Five of those independent councillors work together as a group, rather than a political party, administratively under the acronym NPAIC (Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors. In the aftermath of the election a spokesperson for the group said invitations will be sent to the newly-elected independents to work together as a non-political alliance, but each councillor will retain independence and freedom to vote however they wish on any issues.
As a side note to bring a bit of humour to British Politics 'Dollars' David Van Day was returned the Conservative councillor in Orsett having deserted Aveley where he had previously stood.
Government minister says no to independent public inquiry into Thurrock Council's financial collapse despite repeated calls from councillors and residents.
For a second time the government has turned down a request from Thurrock Council members for a full independent public inquiry into the financial collapse of the council.
The first rejection came last year under a Conservative regime at Westminster, now Labour's Local Government and English Devolution minister Jim McMahon has repeated the refusal - responding to the call made in a joint letter from the leaders of council groups.
Writing to Labour leader Cllr John Kent, Conservative leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies and the spokesperson for the independent non-political councillor group, Cllr Neil Speight, Mr McMahon says he 'understands' the views and sentiments of the council members and borough residents he says he does not think a public inquiry would uncover anything sufficiently relevant.
He says the government wants to learn from what happened in Thurrock and adds he 'looks forward to local action to explore the reasons leading to historic issues to ensure we can all learn'.
In his letter Mr McMahon says: "Thank you for your letter to the Deputy Prime Minister asking the government to launch a public inquiry into the financial failings at Thurrock Council.
"I do understand the views from both your residents and the Council and the sentiment behind your request for an inquiry.
"I too wish to see further recovery and reform so the Council can deliver strong and sustainable services.
"There are a number of reports and investigations into the historical failings at the Council, such as the June 2023 Best Value Inspection report which documents the events which led to the collapse of the Council's investment strategy and found serious weaknesses in the scrutiny and governance arrangements.
"I am also aware that further investigations and reviews are ongoing. I do support any local action to explore the reasons leading to historic issues to ensure we can all learn.
Police probe may be next step in unravelling the secrets of Thurrock Council’s catastrophic financial collapse.
THURROCK MP Jen Craft says she is going to consult Essex Police about the possibility of it launching an investigation into possible fraud or criminal activity related to the financial collapse of Thurrock Council that left local residents dealing with the legacy of a debt mountain of more that £1 billion.
Ms Craft was speaking after a rejection by her Labour colleague and local government minister Jim McMahon of a cross-party plea from councillors for the government to launch a full independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the council's downfall.
It was the second time inside 12 months that the government has rejected such an appeal from Thurrock Council members. A unanimous request in February last year, sparked by a public petition of resident signatories across the borough, was rejected by then Tory local government minister Simon Hoare.
Thurrock Council's Labour leader, Cllr John Kent has spoken of response to that decision, saying: "I am disappointed that the case we have made for a full inquiry into the financial catastrophe that Thurrock Conservatives delivered has, again, been rejected.
"We will be considering further options, and I am seeking a meeting with the minister to put our case personally."
And Conservative opposition leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies says: "When in administration we supported all avenues open to the Council to recover funds and to hold those responsible to account. In light of the government refusing a public enquiry I would ask the Leader of the Council to update all councillor on the various investigations and for Essex Police to also update councillors and the residents of Thurrock on whether there will be a criminal investigation."
In the wake of the rejection, Ms Craft and East Thurrock Reform MP James McMurdock have also spoken up.
Ms Craft has gone as far as saying she will personally contact the police, telling Thurrock Nub News: "There is a lot to be learnt from the events leading to the reckless bankrupting of Thurrock Council by the former Conservative administration.
"People in Thurrock deserve to know how this was allowed to happen, and those responsible must be held to account for their malpractice and impropriety in office.
"A public inquiry is one means of achieving this and is something I have asked the Prime Minister for in the past. While this is not a final answer from the Government, we must now focus on supporting ongoing local inquiries.
"If these cannot give us the answers we need, I will continue to push ministers for an inquiry.
"While this is not a final answer from the Government, we must now focus on supporting ongoing local inquiries, and I will be asking the police about the potential for criminal investigations."
Mr McMurdock, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, told Nub News: ""Transparency is one of the most important ingredients to improving processes and avoiding repeating the same mistakes in the future.
"Taxpayers' money was squandered and wasted, and everyone's quality of life is worse for it. I have made this abundantly clear through asking the Prime Minister to review the loan repayment arrangements which are benefitting the Treasury but hindering Thurrock council and the residents who live there.
"Reform UK are doing all that we can to hold the government to account, but it is clear that they have a culture of not dealing with these important issues head on.
"First, Labour refuses an enquiry into the mass rape of vulnerable children. Now they even refuse an enquiry into loss of around a billion pounds worth of taxpayers' money.
"If it looks like a shameless cover up, and walks like a shameless cover up, then it probably is."
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https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/man-bought-private-jet-and-bugatti-after-council-gave-him-655m-of-taxpayers-money/ar-AA1eDtFA?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=08e2d2ce32c94f528ae8b703cdb6212d&ei=24
Labour hold commanding majority on Thurrock Council as Tories lose ten seats.
On a remarkable night at Purfleet's Backstage Centre, the leadership of Thurrock Council dramatically changed hands as the borough's Conservative vote collapsed and the Tories lost ten seats.
Labour picked up eight of them and now have 27 seats - a majority of five.
Independent councillors picked up two Tory seats and also triumphed in Stanford East & Corringham Town, a seat previously won by the Conservatives, but whose councillor Jack Duffin declared himself an independent in the weeks before the elections after losing the Tory whip when he voted against the Conservative budget. There are now nine independent councillors, just four less than the Tories.
Five of those independent councillors work together as a group, rather than a political party, administratively under the acronym NPAIC (Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors. In the aftermath of the election a spokesperson for the group said invitations will be sent to the newly-elected independents to work together as a non-political alliance, but each councillor will retain independence and freedom to vote however they wish on any issues.
As a side note to bring a bit of humour to British Politics 'Dollars' David Van Day was returned the Conservative councillor in Orsett having deserted Aveley where he had previously stood.
For a second time the government has turned down a request from Thurrock Council members for a full independent public inquiry into the financial collapse of the council.
The first rejection came last year under a Conservative regime at Westminster, now Labour's Local Government and English Devolution minister Jim McMahon has repeated the refusal - responding to the call made in a joint letter from the leaders of council groups.
Writing to Labour leader Cllr John Kent, Conservative leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies and the spokesperson for the independent non-political councillor group, Cllr Neil Speight, Mr McMahon says he 'understands' the views and sentiments of the council members and borough residents he says he does not think a public inquiry would uncover anything sufficiently relevant.
He says the government wants to learn from what happened in Thurrock and adds he 'looks forward to local action to explore the reasons leading to historic issues to ensure we can all learn'.
In his letter Mr McMahon says: "Thank you for your letter to the Deputy Prime Minister asking the government to launch a public inquiry into the financial failings at Thurrock Council.
"I do understand the views from both your residents and the Council and the sentiment behind your request for an inquiry.
"I too wish to see further recovery and reform so the Council can deliver strong and sustainable services.
"There are a number of reports and investigations into the historical failings at the Council, such as the June 2023 Best Value Inspection report which documents the events which led to the collapse of the Council's investment strategy and found serious weaknesses in the scrutiny and governance arrangements.
"I am also aware that further investigations and reviews are ongoing. I do support any local action to explore the reasons leading to historic issues to ensure we can all learn.
Police probe may be next step in unravelling the secrets of Thurrock Council’s catastrophic financial collapse.
THURROCK MP Jen Craft says she is going to consult Essex Police about the possibility of it launching an investigation into possible fraud or criminal activity related to the financial collapse of Thurrock Council that left local residents dealing with the legacy of a debt mountain of more that £1 billion.
Ms Craft was speaking after a rejection by her Labour colleague and local government minister Jim McMahon of a cross-party plea from councillors for the government to launch a full independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the council's downfall.
It was the second time inside 12 months that the government has rejected such an appeal from Thurrock Council members. A unanimous request in February last year, sparked by a public petition of resident signatories across the borough, was rejected by then Tory local government minister Simon Hoare.
Thurrock Council's Labour leader, Cllr John Kent has spoken of response to that decision, saying: "I am disappointed that the case we have made for a full inquiry into the financial catastrophe that Thurrock Conservatives delivered has, again, been rejected.
"We will be considering further options, and I am seeking a meeting with the minister to put our case personally."
And Conservative opposition leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies says: "When in administration we supported all avenues open to the Council to recover funds and to hold those responsible to account. In light of the government refusing a public enquiry I would ask the Leader of the Council to update all councillor on the various investigations and for Essex Police to also update councillors and the residents of Thurrock on whether there will be a criminal investigation."
In the wake of the rejection, Ms Craft and East Thurrock Reform MP James McMurdock have also spoken up.
Ms Craft has gone as far as saying she will personally contact the police, telling Thurrock Nub News: "There is a lot to be learnt from the events leading to the reckless bankrupting of Thurrock Council by the former Conservative administration.
"People in Thurrock deserve to know how this was allowed to happen, and those responsible must be held to account for their malpractice and impropriety in office.
"A public inquiry is one means of achieving this and is something I have asked the Prime Minister for in the past. While this is not a final answer from the Government, we must now focus on supporting ongoing local inquiries.
"If these cannot give us the answers we need, I will continue to push ministers for an inquiry.
"While this is not a final answer from the Government, we must now focus on supporting ongoing local inquiries, and I will be asking the police about the potential for criminal investigations."
Mr McMurdock, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, told Nub News: ""Transparency is one of the most important ingredients to improving processes and avoiding repeating the same mistakes in the future.
"Taxpayers' money was squandered and wasted, and everyone's quality of life is worse for it. I have made this abundantly clear through asking the Prime Minister to review the loan repayment arrangements which are benefitting the Treasury but hindering Thurrock council and the residents who live there.
"Reform UK are doing all that we can to hold the government to account, but it is clear that they have a culture of not dealing with these important issues head on.
"First, Labour refuses an enquiry into the mass rape of vulnerable children. Now they even refuse an enquiry into loss of around a billion pounds worth of taxpayers' money.
"If it looks like a shameless cover up, and walks like a shameless cover up, then it probably is."
Why would Labour wish to cover up Conservative wrongdoing?
There is nothing to cover up. All the facts are known.
We need to move away from this constant calling for public enquiries.
That particular Council wasted £millions of taxpayer money. Due to the greed of politicians wasting money to further their own reputations.
As opposed to other politicians in the area now (of all Parties). Wanting to waste even more taxpayers' money. To further their own reputations.