Plymouth council leader ousted

Nick Kelly loses vote of no confidence

The leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Nick Kelly has been ousted following a vote of no confidence. 

He will be replaced by Cllr Richard Bingley (Cons, Southway). 

Cllr Kelly (Cons, Compton), has been leader for less than a year. He took on the role after the Tory group won the largest number of seats in local elections last May. 

Monday's vote of no confidence was called by Labour, but backed by some independents after they claimed he had “lost all authority.”

Critics suggested the Tories were in disarray after a series of suspensions and resignations, which left them and Labour with an equal number of seats. 

In a heated debate, which included several personal remarks towards councillors from both main parties, members outlined their arguments. 

Labour leader Cllr Tudor Evans OBE (Ham) explained why he had brought the motion. “We need strong leadership,” he said.

“We need a leader that doesn't demand respect. We need a leader that commands respect. 

“They are different things. And unfortunately, this is not a time for command and control. 

“Particularly when you're not in command and you have no control.” 

Speaking in support of Cllr Kelly, Patrick Nicholson (Cons, Plympton St. Mary) said it was the wrong time to bring such a vote.

“Less than six weeks before the people of Plymouth will elect 19 city councillors - today, lord mayor, is not the time to bring democracy to its knees.”

He also said it should be Cllr Evans - a former leader of the city council himself -  who steps down. 

“Having convincingly lost the local elections, Labour's Councillor Tudor Evans should hang his head in shame and resign as leader of the group. 

“Now, what leader has lost as many elections as Councillor Evans and remains leading a political party?”

Cllr Tudor Evans OBE (Labour) has been council leader previously

While some independent member chose to support the Labour motion to oust Cllr Kelly, others showed their support for him. 

Cllr Chaz Singh (Ind, Drake) said: “This is just embarrassing the city and I think it's an embarrassment to the other side by bringing this forward.”

He also pointed to the success of the Conservatives in last year’s local elections in the city.  

“We've got local elections. When you win 14 seats out of 19, that's landslide. That's what you call leadership.”

One argument against Cllr Kelly was that he failed to get his annual budget - which included a 1.74 per cent council tax increase - approved last month after  a Labour amendment to freeze the levy for the next financial year - except for one per cent ring-fenced for adult social care.

Conservatives also faced a number of controversies including the temporary suspension of Cllr Mark Deacon (Conservative, Southway) in March last year after claims he had mocked women’s safety concerns in the wake of the death of Sarah Everard. 

Cllr Kelly was also suspended after being accused of “victim-blaming” in comments he made following the death of Plymouth teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod.

And Tories also faced questions after it emerged that two councillors, elected as Tories last year, are now living in Gloucestershire.

Plymouth City Council was eventually left with no party holding overall control when Cllr Dave Downie (Independent, Budshead) was suspended from the Conservative Party.  

However, Cllr Downie remained cabinet member for for education, skills and children and young people, enabling him to continue to receive a special responsibility allowance of £22,000 a year.

Cllr Richard Bingley takes over as council leader immediately

In summing up, Cllr Evans referred to the sometimes angry debate that had take place.  

“For the last hour, we have been treated to the most vile personal attacks on long serving members of this council for exercising their democratic rights to disagree with the leader of the council,” he said.

“But is this not the Nick Kelly way?

“It is his way or the highway. And that is why we are in the situation we are in today. 

“The man does not allow dissent.”

Councillors eventually voted 29 in favour of the motion, 23 against with one abstention, meaning the majority of councillors did not have confidence in Cllr Kelly and that a new leader must be chosen. 

Subsequently two names were presented as potential successors to Cllr Kelly; Cllr Richard Bingley, who won with 26 votes, and Cllr Vivien Pengelly (Cons, Plymstock Dunstone), who has been council leader previously, and who attracted 12 votes.

After the vote, Cllr Evans said:  "This was never about Labour taking control of the council; we will leave that to the voters in May.

"This was about removing a Conservative leader who had lost the confidence of his group and the whole council and who couldn’t get his budget through.

"He lacked authority and failed even at the eleventh hour to reach out to save his administration.

"We wish Councillor Bingley good luck and look forward to a period of stability and more fruitful and civil cross-party working."

Cllr Bingley becomes leader of Plymouth city council with immediate effect.