THE LEADER of the UKIP group in Thurrock has responded to criticism by Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle-Price over their decision not to support Conservative councillor, Tunde Ojetola for the position of deputy mayor in Thurrock.
Cllr Ojetola was over-looked by the UKIP group in favour of Labour councillor, Cathy Kent.
Ms Doyle-Price went onto twitter to express her disappointment at the result.
She said: "Take the view that anyone who has served as deputy mayor should become Mayor whatever party. Bad luck to Tunde #everydayracism"
UKIP leader, Graham Snell said: "Jackie Doyle-Price’s comments are, as is often the case, misplaced and ill-advised.
"Cllr Ojetola has made it abundantly clear, over the past couple of years,in both the local and national press, that he has a strong dislike of UKIP.
"We are hardly likely to vote for a person who has made his distaste for our group so public.
"To say that our actions were possibly motivated by racism is unfortunate and I would hope our MP regrets even suggesting it".
Councillor Snell has gone on to set the record straight over the discussions that took place prior to the meeting.
Cllr Snell said: "The Tories have made a big show about their unhappiness at the way the vote for deputy Mayor went last night so I thought I would set out some details.
I made it perfectly clear right from the start that UKIP would not support Cllr Ojetola as the candidate for deputy Mayor, due largely to his many anti-UKIP comments in the press over the past couple of years.
On 21st May, I had a meeting with both John Kent and Rob Gledhill where we discussed such matters as committee positions and the Deputy Mayor (by the way, it has been said that this was a secret meeting. It was nothing of the sort, the three leaders met with the full knowledge of their groups).
Again, I made it clear that we would not support Cllr Ojetola.
"No decision was made during that meeting as to who the Tory candidate would be,
Cllr Gledhill told us that he would have to consult with his group and would let John Kent and myself know who it would be sometime after the weekend.
UKIP had a group meeting later in the evening on the 21st, after which I again met Cllr Gledhill and we again discussed the deputy Mayor position. He told me that he understood my position on Cllr Ojetola and had yet to decide who to stand.
On 25th May, Cllr Gledhill was emailed by the Leader of Council (with me in copy) enquiring whether he had settled on a candidate. I was not privy to any reply to that email.
I was not made aware of who the Tories were putting up until approximately 17.45 last night and then only by way of democratic services, not Cllr Gledhill or anybody else on the Tory group.
I was surprised to discover that Cllr Ojetola was the candidate.
These are the facts. The outrage expressed by the Tories during the vote on Deputy Mayor was fabricated, there was never a pre-agreed Tory candidate for deputy mayor.
I actually sympathise with Cllr Ojetola over this, he was clearly disappointed on the night but was, I assume, completely unaware that he was being used as a pawn in a silly, and ill-advised political game.
