Latest news with #WayneTitley
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform council leader defends by-election cost
The Reform UK leader of a council has accused other political parties of hypocrisy over their reaction to the cost of a by-election, after one of his councillors resigned. Wayne Titley won the Eccleshall and Gnosall ward for Reform earlier in May but faced criticism over a social media post around immigration and stepped down. His resignation means a by-election at an estimated £27,000 cost and the Conservative leader on the council called it a "waste of money". But Ian Cooper, for Reform, said he would not "take any lectures from the other parties". "If you look at Staffordshire alone, Conservative MP Chris Pincher stood down, if you look at the figures, parliamentary by-elections cost in the region of £250,000," he added. "You always get people that drop out, Mr Titley decided to drop out, we move forward." But Conservative group leader Philip White described the resignation as shocking. "I asked the leader of the council to apologise for that, for the waste of money, £27,000 we're told and for putting the people of Eccleshall and Gnosall through an unnecessary by-election process," he said. "He refused to apologise." Thursday saw the first meeting of the new county council since the election. Questions at the gathering from opposition councillors, about issues such as special needs provision, highways and budgets, were met with the same line of response from Reform UK cabinet members. They said they would wait to "mark the homework" of the previous Tory-led administration before responding. Cooper added that he would like to repeat that council work had only just started for the newly elected Reform members. "There is a settling in period, steep learning curve for everyone involved," he said. "In the background we've got things going on. We have a forward plan to think about". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Reform councillor quits two weeks after election Reform wins control of Staffordshire County Council
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Staffordshire County Council Reform leader defends by-election cost
The Reform UK leader of a council has accused other political parties of hypocrisy over their reaction to the cost of a by-election, after one of his councillors Titley won the Eccleshall and Gnosall ward for Reform earlier in May but faced criticism over a social media post around immigration and stepped resignation means a by-election at an estimated £27,000 cost and the Conservative leader on the council called it a "waste of money".But Ian Cooper, for Reform, said he would not "take any lectures from the other parties". "If you look at Staffordshire alone, Conservative MP Chris Pincher stood down, if you look at the figures, parliamentary by-elections cost in the region of £250,000," he added."You always get people that drop out, Mr Titley decided to drop out, we move forward."But Conservative group leader Philip White described the resignation as shocking."I asked the leader of the council to apologise for that, for the waste of money, £27,000 we're told and for putting the people of Eccleshall and Gnosall through an unnecessary by-election process," he said."He refused to apologise." Thursday saw the first meeting of the new county council since the at the gathering from opposition councillors, about issues such as special needs provision, highways and budgets, were met with the same line of response from Reform UK cabinet said they would wait to "mark the homework" of the previous Tory-led administration before responding. Cooper added that he would like to repeat that council work had only just started for the newly elected Reform members."There is a settling in period, steep learning curve for everyone involved," he said."In the background we've got things going on. We have a forward plan to think about". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform councillor quits two weeks after election
A new Staffordshire County councillor has stepped down, just two weeks after being elected. Wayne Titley won the Eccleshall and Gnosall division for Reform UK, beating the Conservative Jeremy Pert by just 27 votes. However, he attracted criticism for a post on his Facebook account in March that called on the navy to intercept small boats attempting to reach Britain and use a "volley of gun fire aimed at sinking them". Neither the party nor Mr Titley have addressed that post, which has since been removed, but he said he was resigning for "personal reasons". Reform said it was disappointing to see the level of abuse he had faced, which meant he could no longer continue. The party swept to power at the beginning of the month winning 49 out of the 62 seats on the county council, which had been led by the Conservatives since 2009. "Wayne would have made an excellent champion for the people of Eccleshall and Gnosall and we wish him well for the future," Reform said in a statement. "We are now getting ready to contest the by-election and ensure local people have a strong Reform voice to represent them." Philip Atkins, a former Conservative council leader, said the level of abuse often faced on social media meant it was all the more important that political parties carried out thorough vetting checks before putting candidates forward. It was a view echoed by Lib Dem Stafford borough councillor Alec Sandiford, who said the county council would now have to pick up the bill for a "needless by-election". Staffordshire County Council said details of the by-election would be confirmed in due course. The first full council meeting takes place on 22 May, where the incoming leader is expected to set out his priorities for the county. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Farage is running a cult, says ex-Reform MP Lowe Reform quizzed over councillor's Facebook posts Reform UK new group leader 'up for the challenge' Reform UK stands by councillor sacked by police Reform UK Staffordshire County Council
ITV News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Reform UK councillor Wayne Titley quits after less than two weeks following social media post
A Reform UK councillor has resigned from office less than two weeks after he was elected after a social media post allegedly saying the navy should use a "volley of gunfire" to put off illegal crossings. Wayne Titley represented the people of Gnosall and Eccleshall on Staffordshire County Council for less than a fortnight in the wake of Reform UK's success in May's local council elections. In a post he shared on social media in March, the now former councillor allegedly called illegal crossings "a full blown invasion." The post continued: "Why they don't position the navy so as the big boats leave the shoreline they intercept them and thunder them back using a volley of gun fire aimed at sinking them." Staffordshire County Council announced on Thursday a by-election will be held in his ward following his resignation. The council said: "Wayne Titley from the Reform UK party has decided to step down for personal reasons. "Details of the by-election will be confirmed in due course." A Reform UK spokesman said: "It's disappointing that the level of abuse Wayne and his family have been receiving has meant that he is no longer able to carry on as a councillor. "Wayne would have made an excellent champion for the people of Eccleshall and Gnosall and we wish him well for the future. "We are now getting ready to contest the by-election and ensure local people have a strong Reform voice to represent them."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
New Reform UK councillor quits two weeks after election
A new Staffordshire County councillor has stepped down, just two weeks after being Titley won the Eccleshall and Gnosall division for Reform UK, beating the Conservative Jeremy Pert by just 27 he attracted criticism for a post on his Facebook account in March that called on the navy to intercept small boats attempting to reach Britain and use a "volley of gun fire aimed at sinking them".Mr Titley has not addressed that post, which has since been removed, but said he was resigning for "personal reasons". Reform said it was disappointing to see the level of abuse he had faced, which meant he could no longer continue. The party swept to power at the beginning of the month winning 49 out of the 62 seats on the county council, which had been led by the Conservatives since 2009."Wayne would have made an excellent champion for the people of Eccleshall and Gnosall and we wish him well for the future," Reform said in a statement."We are now getting ready to contest the by-election and ensure local people have a strong Reform voice to represent them."The Conservatives said the level of abuse often faced on social media meant it was all the more important that political parties carried out thorough vetting checks before putting candidates was a view echoed my Lib Dem Stafford borough councillor Alec Sandiford, who said the county council would now have to pick up the bill for a "needless by-election".Staffordshire County Council said details of the by-election would be confirmed in due course. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
