Councillors in North Tyneside have pledged to restore “honesty, integrity, and respect” into local politics following a series of campaign scandals.
The borough's politicians made the pledge last week, after outrage in June when a website run by a Tory councillor branded a former deputy mayor the area's “laziest Labour councillor” following a spell of illness that forced him to vacate his seat.
Labour put forward a motion at a full council meeting last Thursday, which was also backed by the Conservative opposition, calling for parties to treat each other with respect, not impersonate rival parties or the media, and "uphold the highest standards of integrity".
The move came after Tory councillor Liam Bones was suspended last month for an online attack on Labour's Jim Allan, who recently vacated his Camperdown ward seat as he battles illness. The North Tyneside Gazette website claimed Mr Allan “received over £150,000 in allowances – but didn’t think it was necessary to attend the meetings he was being paid to go to”.
Coun Bones' suspension from the council's Conservative group has since been lifted following an investigation into his conduct. He had also been criticised in 2021 over another “misleading” website and ahead of this May’s elections for publishing election leaflets which appeared to mimic the Green Party.
Labour's deputy mayor Carl Johnson told the council: “Honesty, integrity, and respect matter in politics. The Labour Party wants to uphold the highest levels of honesty, integrity and respect.
“Residents have told us time and time again, in local elections and the recent Camperdown election, they are sick of the behaviour of some parties in North Tyneside. That is why we are seeking all parties to sign our pledge which aims to clean up our politics in North Tyneside.
“The Conservative Party on a national level have failed to apply or uphold the highest level of honesty, integrity, and respect.
“The rot sets in at the top and it works its way downwards and that is clearly the case in North Tyneside. The national party’s behaviour has been translated locally.”
Read More:
- Councils back delay of Newcastle Clean Air Zone tolls to 2023 – but government must still approve
- 'First ever' mega hub linking Northumbria police, Tyne and Wear Fire and North East Ambulance is approve
The leader of the local Conservatives, St Mary’s councillor George Westwater, responded: “I think it is essential that we work and adhere to the rules and guidance from the Electoral Commission. But it is important to note as well the fact it's always a two-way street.
“Recently it may be attacking your councillor in Camperdown, but in the previous election, you have to understand, the Labour Party wasn’t so nice to me directly.”
Coun Westwater went on to describe tactics used against him, including a cartoon dubbing him “Tory Tim” and making gauche references to his Scottish ancestry. He also mentioned how his education in Hong Kong was used against him.
“It shows the direction of campaigning and the quality of campaigning is sometimes down to individuality and not the party as a whole”, Coun Westwater continued.
“I don't believe in negative politics, the residents of my ward of St Mary’s don't believe in negative politics and nor do those in the wider borough. I will be supporting this motion wholeheartedly , I can hope that going forward we get a bit more nicer politics as in the past it has been quite cut throat and embarrassing”.
The motion was carried unanimously by all members of the Labour and Conservative parties.
-
Tory councillor suspended over 'gutter politics' attack on ex-deputy mayor battling illness
-
North Tyneside Council a 'one-party state' says Tory councillor at heated annual meeting
-
Council to urge Prime Minister to protect trans people from 'conversion therapy'
-
Tory election leaflet in North Tyneside mimicking Greens branded 'unethical'
-
New £3m Metro bridge lowered into place in North Shields by giant crane
