Latest news with #DeborahTaylor
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK stands by newly-elected councillor sacked by police
A Reform UK council leader has defended one of his newly-elected colleagues after it was revealed he had been sacked from his role as a police Hamilton-Gray won a seat on Leicestershire County Council in this month's local elections when Reform became the largest party on the it has emerged Hamilton-Gray was dismissed by Leicestershire Police last year after a misconduct hearing found he had called in sick, to travel to Spain, when he should have been working as a Harrison, who was elected as the council's leader on Wednesday, told the BBC the former police officer was an "honourable, decent man". Hamilton-Gray was elected to the senior civic role as county council vice-chairman on Conservative council leader Deborah Taylor called for the councillor, who represents the Loughborough North West division, to be suspended claiming vital information about him had been withheld from the BBC approached Hamilton-Gray about these remarks but he said he had been advised not to asked if there would be a suspension, Harrison said this would not happen."It's unfortunate, but he's an innocent person - he's not doing anything wrong," he said."I'm defending him strongly because he's an honourable, decent man." Hamilton-Gray was sacked by Leicestershire Police for breaching professional standards on "honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, orders and instructions, and duties and responsibilities".His page on LinkedIn advertises a consultancy advising "high-end dealerships in the luxury car market".Leicestershire Police Federation, which represented the former officer, has confirmed that his misconduct hearing related to selling luxury panel heard that the force had given him permission to run a car sales business in his own misconduct panel heard that PC Gray, as he was then known, applied for leave to deliver a car to Barcelona in April of his leave request was rejected. But a week later, he booked a return ferry ticket from Portsmouth, returning over two days when he was scheduled to reported in sick only hours before the outward sailing, the panel heard.A month later, two police officers stopped PC Gray in the passenger seat of a vintage red Porsche. The panel heard that he was giving a potential buyer a test drive while he was signed off PC Gray's dismissal, Leicestershire's then Chief Constable Rob Nixon described his conduct as "deliberate" and "planned" has been on the College of Policing barred list since his dismissal from the force.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
County awaits political future after elections
The dust has far from settled after this month's elections to Leicestershire County Council. Reform UK took 25 seats - not quite enough to take overall control at County Hall but enough to end the Conservatives' 24-year grip on power there. The Tories, now numbering 15, said on 3 May that they would act as a "strong opposition" to a Reform minority administration, closing off the option for a coalition of the parties to run the council for now. It means Reform has the option of either governing in a minority administration or trying to form a coalition with parties towards the opposite end of the political spectrum. But there has been no official word on what is happening. Reform has until 14 May to name its leader and cabinet. That is the date of the county council's annual general meeting - when all councillors meet to elect a chair and vice-chair and appoint councillors to committees. The other parties are waiting for Reform to name its leader so they know who they will be working with to form the important committees that oversee the authority's work. Conservative leader Deborah Taylor said: "We all need to work together for the good of Leicestershire. "Without a leader to talk to, I can't do anything." Joseph Boam, the newly-elected Reform councillor for Whitwick, previously said: "Let's not forget the sheer importance of what has happened here. "From a standing start we are now the largest party in Leicestershire County Council. "The message from local residents is clear: They want change and Reform UK will deliver that." Reform councillors must decide among themselves who leads them - a meeting to decide that is understood to be taking place on Monday. So how will they choose their leader - will they rate youth over experience? Dan Harrison has the most council experience in this Reform group. First elected on to Leicestershire County Council as a Conservative in 2017, he defected to Reform in February. He also served on North West Leicestershire District Council for eight years until 2023. He has to be in contention. Virge Richichi stood as an independent in district council elections in north west Leicestershire back in 2007 but didn't win. He succeeded as a Conservative four years later and continued as a district councillor until 2023, including as council chairman in 2021. Some of the group at least have previous experience in contesting elections. Three of the new Reform group stood for the party in the last county council election in 2021: Pete Morris elected in Loughborough North, Adam Tilbury in Forest and Measham and Bill Piper in Broughton Astley. Piper has a long history as a candidate in a range of elections including three for Parliament, also standing for the UK Independence Party before he joined Reform - and has previously served on Lutterworth Town Council. Others just elected may have had parish council roles before or have roles within the party now, like Boam, who chairs the North West Leicestershire Reform UK branch - or 19-year-old Charles Pugsley, who is the same branch's secretary. For whoever does emerge as leader, the job of winning over their colleagues is just the first hurdle to stepping up as leader of the whole council in which they are outnumbered by other parties. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Council falls into no overall control - as it happened Conservatives rule out coalition after Reform wins Leicestershire County Council
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Leicestershire County Council awaits political future
The dust has far from settled after this month's elections to Leicestershire County UK took 25 seats - not quite enough to take overall control at County Hall but enough to end the Conservatives' 24-year grip on power Tories, now numbering 15, said on 3 May that they would act as a "strong opposition" to a Reform minority administration, closing off the option for a coalition of the parties to run the council for means Reform has the option of either governing in a minority administration or trying to form a coalition with parties towards the opposite end of the political spectrum. But there has been no official word on what is happening. Next steps Reform has until 14 May to name its leader and cabinet. That is the date of the county council's annual general meeting - when all councillors meet to elect a chair and vice-chair and appoint councillors to other parties are waiting for Reform to name its leader so they know who they will be working with to form the important committees that oversee the authority's work. Conservative leader Deborah Taylor said: "We all need to work together for the good of Leicestershire. "Without a leader to talk to, I can't do anything." Joseph Boam, the newly-elected Reform councillor for Whitwick, previously said: "Let's not forget the sheer importance of what has happened here. "From a standing start we are now the largest party in Leicestershire County Council."The message from local residents is clear: They want change and Reform UK will deliver that."Reform councillors must decide among themselves who leads them - a meeting to decide that is understood to be taking place on how will they choose their leader - will they rate youth over experience? Dan Harrison has the most council experience in this Reform group. First elected on to Leicestershire County Council as a Conservative in 2017, he defected to Reform in February. He also served on North West Leicestershire District Council for eight years until 2023. He has to be in Richichi stood as an independent in district council elections in north west Leicestershire back in 2007 but didn't win. He succeeded as a Conservative four years later and continued as a district councillor until 2023, including as council chairman in 2021. Some of the group at least have previous experience in contesting elections. Three of the new Reform group stood for the party in the last county council election in 2021: Pete Morris elected in Loughborough North, Adam Tilbury in Forest and Measham and Bill Piper in Broughton Astley. Piper has a long history as a candidate in a range of elections including three for Parliament, also standing for the UK Independence Party before he joined Reform - and has previously served on Lutterworth Town just elected may have had parish council roles before or have roles within the party now, like Boam, who chairs the North West Leicestershire Reform UK branch - or 19-year-old Charles Pugsley, who is the same branch's whoever does emerge as leader, the job of winning over their colleagues is just the first hurdle to stepping up as leader of the whole council in which they are outnumbered by other parties.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform largest party in 'hung' Leicestershire
The Conservatives have lost control of Leicestershire County Council - but no party has secured enough seats to command a majority. Reform has become the largest party in the county after securing 25 seats in Thursday's local elections, just shy of the 28 needed to take full control. The Conservatives have 15 seats, the Liberal Democrats 11, Labour has two and there is one Green and one independent. Writing on X, Joseph Boam, chairman of North West Leicestershire's Reform branch, said: "Thank you to every voter who put their trust in us." Live: Follow latest on local elections Who won the local election in my area? What's happened so far and what's still to come? Deborah Taylor, who was acting leader of the council, was re-elected to the Bradgate division. Writing on X, she said: Thank you to everyone that voted for me and supported me. "Many valued colleagues have been defeated and I'm sorry to see them go. "Discussions will be held over the next few days as to the way forward for Leicestershire." By Tim Parker, BBC Leicester political reporter The Conservatives have lost control of Leicestershire County Council for the first time in almost a quarter of a century. With all the local election results now in, Reform has won 25 of the 55 seats in all - that's three short of an overall majority. The Conservatives won 15 seats, while the Liberal Democrats gained a couple of seats and now boast a group of 11. Labour, meanwhile, are down to two seats and independent Michael Charlesworth kept his seat in East Wigston. There will also be representation from the Green Party, which gained its first seat at County Hall. Among Reform's headline wins was Michael Squires taking Valley from Conservative leader Nick Rushton. So, what happens next? Well, party leaders have got to agree some form of coalition so they can run the authority - that could take days. Whoever does take charge will inherit unchanged issues - increasing demand for social care and special educational needs provision, financial challenges at County Hall and fixing the potholes. And then, there's the matter of the whole council setup in Leicestershire being reorganised. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Leicestershire County Council
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former judge Her Honour Deborah Taylor will head public inquiry into Nottingham attacks
A former judge has been appointed to chair a public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks two years ago. Her Honour Deborah Taylor, a former circuit court judge who retired in 2022, was appointed by Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood on Tuesday to "undertake a thorough, independent assessment of the events that culminated in these brutal attacks". She will provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents and will have the power to examine all agencies involved, including the Crown Prosecution Service and Nottinghamshire Police. Students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates were killed by Valdo Calocane in June 2023. He then attempted to kill three other people in a spate of attacks in Nottingham. Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. Prosecutors accepted a plea of manslaughter after experts agreed his schizophrenia meant he was not fully responsible for his actions. The families said recently he had "got away with murder". In a statement, the Lord Chancellor said: "The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham Attack, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific attacks were able to happen. "I am pleased to appoint Her Honour Deborah Taylor as the Chair of this inquiry. "She brings deep experience to the role, and I know she will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts." Read more: In February, Sir Keir Starmer told the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates that a judge-led public inquiry would start in "a matter of weeks". It comes after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) also announced it would reopen a probe into Leicestershire Police after allegations of assault by Calocane on two co-workers in May 2023.
