“No talks on coalition” blasts Thurrock Council leader, John Kent

By
Staff Reporter
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17
318

A FURIOUS council leader John Kent has gone on the record to categorically deny that the ruling Thurrock Labour group has entered into negotiations regarding a possible coalition with the Tory opposition in Thurrock.

The original story by the Thurrock Gazette’s reporter Matt Abbott soon attracted national attention with even Sky News making inquiries as to its veracity.

It has been a tradition in some councils that are No Overall Control (NOC) to “horse trade” with certain positions, whether that be cabinet positons, chair of committees as well as ceremonial post such as mayor and deputy mayor.

But John Kent has contacted YT to put, what he says, is the record straight.

Cllr Kent said: “There has been not been any talks between me, or any other Labour councillors, and Conservative members in regard of forming a coalition or – somehow – dividing up positions”.

YT sent an e mail to the acting leader of the Thurrock Conservatives, cllr Rob Gledhill asking to out their side of the story but we had not received a reply at the time of publication.

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17 COMMENTS

  1. The Gazette report on a ‘coalition’ between Labour and Tory seemed completely bizarre.

    Labour have ‘teamed up’ with the Independents in the past which seems a much more likely outcome.

  2. Very glad to hear this, how would they have formed a council without an opposition.

    Wonder where The Gazette go the story from or is this a backtrack by the Labour party based on the bad press surrounding the story

  3. Note he doesn’t deny that he has held talk with the Conservatives. He just rules out that they haven’t held talks discussing “forming a coalition or – somehow – dividing up positions”. Perhaps someone should ask him if he has had or plan to have any discussions with the Conservatives regarding the future control of the Council?

  5. Presumably Kent has already contacted the Gazette demanding a full retraction of the story and a full apology.

    Could he also re-iterate his stance on how the evil Tories are destroying the council with their savage cuts.

    Look forward to reading the apology in the Gazette.

  6. I think voters have already reiterated their stance on the evil Tories by way of How the voting went in Thurrock

  7. Novoice is right. they are evil tories. always expecting everyone else to pick up there expenses while they cannot be ask to pay there full share of tax.

  8. Superman, No Voice & Catching A Bus…… What a group of Clowns.

    Would you like to backup your statements with facts!

  10. I take that as a No Superman! you cannot backup your statements, now silence we have heard enough from you and your madness.

    How about the other 2 clowns!

  12. the exspenses scandle and MP’s tax affairs.
    Why you ask me to back that up is beyong me. use google and read a newspaper. or watch Sky. its all well documented.

    Bill79, Now legally back up your statement that I am a clown.?

  13. Catching the Bus, You say Tories are evil who claim expenses and do not pay their full share of tax, yet you still cannot back that up with hard facts?

    I have checked google and read the newspapers & watched Sky and it’s documented that a small amount of MPs & Cllrs from all political party’s claim dodgy expenses and have had false tax affairs from time to time.

    Based on your own evidence, to focus on only one party and suggest only one party claims dodgy expenses makes your statement a Joke (pardon the pun) which you cannot backup with hard facts as the facts you presented focus on all dodgy claims from all political Party’s, not just the Tories.

    If you had said, all political party’s are evil, always expecting everyone else to pick up their expenses while they cannot be ask to pay their full share of tax then that statement would have still been a joke (pardon the pun) but would have at least held a factual point that the MPs expenses scandal still holds a grudge with the British public today.

  14. Bill79 my comment about the evil Tories was made more in sarcasm than in facts. I’m no fan of Labour.

  15. I see no apology in the Gazette. I do see a story about a cancelled meeting though. Looks like the great leader has been caught. Now there’s a man you can trust.

  16. Bill79 I’ve seen this very thing on the web before. If you touch on a touchy subject for someone, just claim they have to provide hard fatcs and what ever facts are provided are dismissed and anti, political, media or have any other slant.

    “I have checked google and read the newspapers & watched Sky and it’s documented that a small amount of MPs & Cllrs from all political party’s claim dodgy expenses and have had false tax affairs from time to time.”

    Then what are you asking me for hard facts for are you a congenital idiot?

    “Based on your own evidence, to focus on only one party and suggest only one party claims dodgy expenses makes your statement a Joke (pardon the pun) which you cannot backup with hard facts as the facts you presented focus on all dodgy claims from all political Party’s, not just the Tories.”

    I never have claimed one party is only guilty of exspenses see my posts from the past you will see I have held the Tories Nu Labour and Lib Dems to account.

    You are making a number of assumptions I stand by the Tories are Evil and I am guessing it is hard for you to hear because of your political belief system.

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