IF THERE is ever evidence that this could be a bitter and nasty local election battle then it was supplied in an acrimonious exchange between the portfolio holder of housing, cllr Lynn Worrall (Labour) and Ukip councillor for Aveley, Tim Aker.
The questions centred on the subject of right to buy but again descended into acrimony as cllr Worrall felt the questions were less political and more personal.
With pressure bearing down in the chamber and cllr Aker’s staff members criticising her on twitter, cllr Worrall told the chamber that Ukip councillors had invited her to join the party.
The next day, group leader, cllr Graham Snell dismissed the claim. He said:
"When Lynn Worrall made the wild claim that we had requested her to join, I nearly fell off my chair.
"Since I was elected two years ago I have got used to ridiculous comments being made during the constant bickering between Tories and Labour but I have to say this reached new heights.
"I am happy to confirm that we have no interest in Cllr Lynn Worrall joining UKIP, we have a brilliant candidate in Tilbury St Chads and look forward to him joining our team in the Council after May’s elections."
Cllr Worrall, who is up for re-election in May, then decided to name the councillor who she claimed tried to lull her over to the purple side.
Cllr Worrall said: "Whilst it is not my style to name people, I feel, that as the UKIP leader has gone public and questioned my honesty, I have no option than to substantiate my claim that UKIP did ask me to leave the Labour group and stand for them in the May elections
During the repairs working group Cllr Chris Baker approached me and said that I was was "a good councillor and UKIP thought I doing a good job on housing" and that they would like me to join them rather than stand for the Labour Party.
"As I advised in the council last night I turned the offer down with no hesitation. I would add this is not the first time I have been approached by UKIP but hope now it will be the last".
Cllr Chris Baker has poured scorn on cllr Worrall’s statement.
She said: "This was a conversation in the company of Cllr Ojetola and three staff members of the market research team in Manchester.
"I find it staggeringly naive of Cllr Worrall that she could have considered a tongue in cheek comment as a formal approach to join UKIP.
"Any serious politicians would know that approaches like this would come through the party leadership and not in the company of Conservative Councillors.
"I suspect that this comment in last nights Council was a desperate panic to try and deflect the failures of her department brought to the chambers attention by Cllr Aker.
"I would like to take this opportunity to announce my support for our brilliant UKIP Tilbury St Chads candidate who I am sure we will be welcoming into the UKIP Thurrock Council Group on the 5th May."
