Conservative Party Suspends Monika Juneja

Published on: 23 May, 2015
Updated on: 23 May, 2015

Former councillor Monika Juneja, reported to have been suspended from the Conservative party.

Monika Juneja, the former Conservative councillor awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to five criminal charges at the Old Bailey on May 11th, has been suspended from the Conservative party The Guildford Dragon NEWS has been informed.

It is understood that the decision to suspend Juneja’s membership was taken on Monday (May 18), a week after her court appearance, by a management team at the Guildford Conservative Association.

The association has failed to respond to a request to confirm the suspension.

Ratification by the association’s executive committee is normally required before such decisions are finalised. Those subject to such action are usually allowed to appear before the committee to make their case.

Responses to Conservative Party Suspends Monika Juneja

Martin Elliott Reply

May 24, 2015 at 6:59 pm

I know it took a bit of time (and pressure) to persuade her to stand down from her position on GBC Executive. However she remained a councillor through to the election. Has she received any allowances for that period and possibly as a lapsed councillor?
Jules Cranwell Reply

May 26, 2015 at 8:56 am

It is worth noting that, under the Conservative Association rules, a councillor charged with ‘an offence’ must be suspended, pending the outcome of the case.

However, the ultimate discretion lies with the leader of the Conservative group, in Guildford’ case Stephen Mansbridge.

This discretion was used to keep Monica zJuneja in post, and on the planning committee, despite having had eight charges levied against her.
Anna-Marie Davis Reply

May 27, 2015 at 2:31 pm

In response to Mr Cranwell’s comment above, Stephen Mansbridge did not have authority to make that decision; as her business partner there was a clear conflict of interests which was not prevented from occurring by any Council Officer.
Ben Paton Reply

May 28, 2015 at 7:57 am

It is about time that Guildford Borough Council took responsibility for its own deliberate actions. It needs to apologise not justify or extenuate.

There is a clear line of decision making. The Guildford Conservatives controlled the Council and chose Councillor Mansbridge to lead them. Councillor Mansbridge chose Ms Juneja, his business partner, to lead the Council on both Governance and the Local Plan.

When doubts were raised as to Ms Juneja’s honesty the Council accepted without demur a flawed report from Dr Hooper, even after it was put on notice of its shortcomings by the Bar Council.

Ms Juneja is responsible for her own actions – and her guilty pleas are a belatedly acceptance of responsiblity. But those who promoted her beyond her abilities and kept her in post after her dishonesty was exposed also bear responsibility.

All we have heard from the leadership is shameful attempts to blame those who exposed Juneja’s dishonesty.

Expelling Ms Juneja from the Conservative Party is a token gesture which amounts to shutting the stable dooor after the horse has bolted.
- Marjorie Baylis Reply
  
  June 11, 2015 at 5:38 pm
  
  “Expelling Ms Juneja from the Conservative Party is a token gesture which amounts to shutting the stable dooor after the horse has bolted”…
  
  Oddly, the Conservative Party believes in ‘innocent until proved guilty’ so until the guilty verdict was delivered by the courts, there was no need to do anything. Having been found guilty, there was no hesitation in expelling Ms Juneja. What else do you suggest should be done?