South Norfolk Conservatives defer discussion of Norfolk County Council leader’s conduct
by DAN GRIMMER
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
6:30 AM
Members of the Conservative association in whose patch Norfolk County Council leader Derrick Murphy is hoping to secure his political future next year have deferred further consideration of complaints over his conduct.
Mr Murphy currently represents the Freebridge Lynn division, the site of the proposed incinerator at Saddlebow, but in May it was announced he would fight the Forehoe division, 50 miles away, for South Norfolk Conservatives in next year’s county council elections.
However, two individuals, including Conservative Jon Herbert, the current holder of the Forehoe seat, had complained about Mr Murphy’s conduct to the South Norfolk Conservatives, urging the association to expel or deselect him.
A meeting of the association’s management team was held last night, where it was agreed that the association would not consider the issue until a separate investigation into Mr Murphy’s conduct was completed by Norfolk County Council. The council’s senior standards enforcer has set up an independent inquiry after seven members of the public complained about Mr Murphy’s role in the affair of a controversial email sent by taxpayer-funded Conservative political assistant Kevin Vaughan on April 18.
The county council has been locked in a bitter dispute with West Norfolk Council over the planned incinerator at King’s Lynn and a county council investigation concluded Mr Murphy was behind the email which appeared to undermine West Norfolk leader Nick Daubney.
Christopher Kemp, deputy chairman of South Norfolk Conservative Association, said the complaint to the public authority must take precedence and only after that was concluded would the association decide whether any further discussion was necessary.
Mr Murphy previously said the complainants who had contacted South Norfolk Conservative Association had “absolutely no evidence on which to base their statement”.
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17 comments
NCC wanted a burner at any cost. King of Spin Derrick Murphy was the man to push the incinerator through because others failed. They come unstuck when as there was no consensus for a burner, which was reinforced by NCCs Future of Norfolk’s Waste survey 2008. The Referendum. The planning consultation and virtually all parish councils in Norfolk. After the public watched many stage managed events at County Hall Derrick Murphy in desperation used the services of BBC Radio Norfolk to manipulate the public or referred to as sheep at the planning meeting. What influence has he had on the planning consultation within county hall and wrong information allowed to be submitted to agencies? It is not just Derrick Murphy as it is down to his superiors for letting things get out of hand.
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Alan Allan
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Either SNCA believe Derrick Murphy's behaviour and conduct is perfectly acceptable for a member of the Conservative Party, or someone is pulling their strings. Members across Norfolk have been given countless opportunities to speak out, they have their biggest opportunity on Friday, in which to show which side of the moral fence they sit on. Should they choose to remain silent, then they have no right to a voice in May 2013.
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Honest John
Thursday, August 30, 2012
This Murphy chap could give Putin lessons.....
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Whilst his alienation of the overwhelming majority of electors in Freebridge Lynn would not cause NCC to lose sleep it must be regarded as a capital offence by the Tories. What sort of reference is that to take to S Norfolk? Murphy will not win Forehoe and the party must surely know this by now. Their only chance is to restore Herbert and try to get back some credibility.
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Kenny Bunkport
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Maryjane, Murphy knows more about survival that even Bear Grylls does. He will find a way of manipulating the rules to avoid going under on Friday. That is what he does.
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Nemesis
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Utterly spellbinding!! Anyone know what will happen on Friday when there will be a vote of no confidence - what's the bookies going rate at the moment?
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maryjane
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
South Norfolk are just using delaying tactics because they can't think what to do because they have painted themselves into a corner. When NCC have made up their mind then they will think up some other rubbish excuse for doing nothing. But one thing is for sure. May 2013 is on its way! Try and wriggle your way out of that Stebbings and Kemp.
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alecto
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Should the NCC Standards Committee - with its Tory majority - actually decide that Derrick Murphy did bring his office and NCC into disrepute, can we assume that SNCA will then automatically deselect him as the candidate for the Forehoe division?
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John Martin
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
It's time to desert the sinking ship Murphy; get out whilst you have any credibility left, if in fact you have any.By the way, when you go, take some of your crowd with you. They won't be there following the May elections anyway
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Commander500
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
SNCA are doomed come May 2013 anyway - Murphy is damaged goods and not only will they lose seats to other parties but also their power behind the throne at NCC when he is knocked off his perch at the ballot box. Too much to expect Mr Herbert to step up in the meantime - its the tail wagging the dog as usual.
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Fenscape
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
We all know the outcome of the NCC enquiry into Mr. Murphy's behaviour - no further action - no further action - no further action! Same old story each time and if SNCA think that deferring their decision until this has happened will placate the public, then I think they need to change their rose tinted glasses! Perhaps SNCA can tell us what they will do once this investigation is over and why NCC's enquiry has any bearing on their decision anyway....
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whimsie73
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Is it cos it is "sub judice" Mr Stebbings? In the Cordon Bleu cookery sort of way not the "legal sort of way"? I cant decide whether the SNCA Executive are sad or hilariously awful. But of course they were damned from the moment they took on Murphy. Now whatever they do they are going to look like wallies. No change there.
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alecto
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
This is completely illogical. NCC has one set of conduct rules. SNCA no doubt has another. Murphy's behaviour needs to be investigated under each. Jon Herbert should take this up with CCHQ in London direct.
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Nemesis
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Mr. Herbert must feel gutted after all his service to Forehoe. Cllr. Murphy's cat like insistence on hanging in there will guarantee massive changes at NCC next year. Andy Gardiner's success in Wymondham has shown what is possible, if people only realised what goes on.
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ingo wagenknecht
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I have been "exchanging views" recently with the Chairman of SNCA. It was clear all along that this is what it intended to do. However, Honest John, Ms McNeill clearly felt that she had to put the seven NCC complaints out to an independent investigator and she has done so. That said, when his report is received, she will be the sole judge of whether thye complaints should go to the NCC Standards Committee.
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John Martin
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
This will be another complaint dealt with by Ms McNeil and co with complete transparency - we can see right through it already. Can't be long before an external investigation is called for into these foregone conclusions either.
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Honest John
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Obvious SNCA expect NCC to carry out its normal whitewash so they can claim Saint Murphy has been found innocent of any wrongdoing. We all know that NCC officers and members now consider abuse of the public perfectly acceptable so what could possibly be wrong with a little undermining of a fellow politician? Even if it does mean ordering another to do it for you!!
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Canary Boy
Wednesday, August 29, 2012