Tories stifle open debate of their failures

10.37.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Jul 2007

"This attack on the rights of minority groups has been introduced to prevent open debate of any issue that might embarrass the Tory administration."

At the recent County Council meeting the majority Conservative group used a report on procedure to remove the right of Opposition groups to introduce motions for debate, without getting their permission first. Until now minority groups have had the right to introduce motions on any issues of concern and have them debated at the time. Now all decisions on whether to debate any motion have been put in the hands of the Tory majority.

Opposing the Conservative proposal, Councillor Stephen Cooksey said "This attack on the rights of minority groups has been introduced to prevent open debate of any issue, and there are many of them, that might embarrass the Tory administration. It will stop important issues being raised and debated and indicates clearly just how concerned they are about public discussion of the way they run the Council".