BOB KILMISTER, leader of the Pembrokeshire Alliance, spoke to The Herald on Friday evening about the startling online announcement his group are discussing whether to enter into coalition with the ruling IPPG.
Bob Kilmister told The Herald that Jamie Adams sprung the surprise coalition offer on Tuesday morning when he had supposed that the IPPG leader was to discuss an item arising from the previous day’s Corporate Governance Committee. At that meeting Cllr Kilmister announced that he had lost trust in the Council Leader and his former deputy Rob Lewis.
In the face of an overwhelmingly negative reaction on social media, Bob Kilmister told The Herald that no substantive discussions as to a coalition arrangement had taken place. The announcement of Jamie Adams’ approach was, instead, part of the Pembrokeshire Alliance’s commitment to be open and transparent.
“We are a party with a constitution. While Alliance councillors can make a decision, I thought it was important to communicate with our members and to have an open conversation with supporters and our executive committee. We have not had formal negotiations yet. Jamie Adams has made an offer which our councillors have discussed. But we have NOT responded to Cllr Adams’ offer at this time. We want to be open and transparent in what we do.”
While Bob Kilmister declined to comment on a rumour that he had been offered a Cabinet post and the deputy leadership by Jamie Adams, he did reveal the rationale behind consideration being given to Jamie Adams’ offer:
“There is a probability that a breakaway IPPG faction, involving some of those Councillors who did NOT support the motion of no confidence in Bryn Parry Jones, could effectively hold the rest of the Council to ransom. Councillor Brian Hall is, I believe, actively trying to establish such a group.”
The Herald understands that Councillor Hall’s mooted group could comprise former Cabinet member David Pugh, former IPG deputy leader John Allen-Mirehouse, and the unaffiliated Owen James. One person mentioned as a possible recruit, Fishguard representative Myles Pepper, was contacted by The Herald. He denied being approached to be a member of Brian Hall’s group and told us that he was not interested in joining such a group in any event.
If Brian Hall’s group attracted more than seven members and remained outside any coalition with the IPPG, Councillor Paul Miller – leader of the Labour Group – could lose his entitlement to the allowance paid to the leader of the largest opposition group on Pembrokeshire County Council. Councillor Miller told The Herald he was untroubled by the prospect.
While Cllr Kilmister said he had been taken aback by the venom of the reaction on social media he stressed no decision had yet been made on Cllr Adams’ offer.
“I have been contacted by some unaffiliated councillors who have suggested that we should not be considering the offer,” he added: “But the thought of Brian Hall being back in a position of real power should be enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.”