A THURROCK UKIP councillor has questioned whether his group should break away and form a separate party after a number of recent events have, in his opinion, left them a “laughing stock”.In an email seen by YT, it appears that events such as Diane James leaving her post as leader after just eighteen days and the alleged fight between UKIP MEPs Steven Woolfe and Mike Hookem have greatly angered Ockendon councillor Kevin Wheeler.Cllr Wheeler said: “I would like to express my disappointment/disgust with the current so-called Leadership of UKIP undermining the hard work we are doing in Thurrock by turning our party into a laughing stock.”I would like to open a conversation about the possibility of us, the grassroots members, taking back some control and credibility within our borough, before we are further tarnished by the unprofessional behaviour of our ‘leaders’.”Will there come a point when Thurrock UKIP councillors need to/should break away and become our own party, putting our area and concerns first for securing our political future in Thurrock?Thurrock UKIP have seventeen councillors and have been praised in many quarters for continuing their hard work in the communities. Even last weekend, they were working in Buddy’s Garden in Tilbury as well as out canvassing in Blackshots.UKIP Thurrock Group Leader, Cllr Graham Snell said: “UKIP Thurrock and our Councillors will continue to do what we have always done, which is to knock on doors and help the people of Thurrock. Regardless of what is going on nationally we will continue to put our local community first.”We have been out speaking to residents for the last three weeks and if anything we have seen better responses that ever before. We are, first and foremost, a casework party. Our priority is helping people with their local issues and improving Thurrock.”Compared to a Labour Party that is at war with itself and on the brink of splitting, we are only going through a brief rough patch. We will be electing a new Leader in the next few weeks to allow us to move forward into the new year: making sure Theresa May delivers on Brexit. We can’t trust her. As her record shows, she drove net migration up to 333,000 a year and voted to keep us in the EU. Only with a strong UKIP will we get the Brexit that Britain voted for.”Unlike other political parties that go missing during a year off from elections, we have spent even more time engaging with residents and helping out with community projects.”If you have a local issue or problem with the Council then please get in touch at 01375 415 650 or visit the office at 49-51 Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5HJ.”
