Conduct Of The Leader Of Hull City Council

EDM number 287 in 2002-03, proposed by Kevin McNamara on 04/12/2002.

That this House notes with astonishment, bordering on disbelief, the actions of the Leader of Hull Council, accompanied by Jim Brooks, Hull's Managing Director, in requesting an urgent meeting with the Editor of the Hull Daily Mail about the party's withdrawal of support for a citywide CCTV system; notes with amazement that she suggested to the Editor that he should write the motion on the issue of CCTV for the council meeting; commends the Editor's decision to politely decline, although notes that she then scribbled down a motion and submitted it for his approval; further notes that her commitment to table the motion with her name first was not honoured; questions with concern the reason and role by Jim Brooks in attending this meeting which was of a party political nature; wonders what part he played in drafting the motion and in the motion eventually not being tabled; furthermore condemns the unprofessional approach of the Leader of Hull Council in giving the Editor of the Hull Daily Mail a veto on the contents of a motion to appear on the Council Order Paper; concludes that her actions seriously bring into question who is actually running and making the decisions at Hull Council, the coalition Cabinet of the Editor of the Hull Daily Mail, and the leadership capabilities of the Liberal Democrats which demonstrates all the signs of weakness and lack of political leadership; and commends the Hull Daily Mail for putting into the public domain this outstanding example of political ineptitude.

This motion has been signed by a total of 11 MPs.