Council Leader Resignation: Council Webcast Shows Apparent U-turn

Published on: 19 Oct, 2015
Updated on: 22 Oct, 2015

Stephen Mansbridge responding to Cllr Gunning on July 28.

Former council leader Stephen Mansbridge appears to have performed a U-turn over his view on new governance arrangements at Guildford Borough Council.

In his resignation letter today (October 19) he claims that the reason for his resignation is his objection to a new governance system recently approved, almost unanimously, at the most recent full council meeting of Guildford Borough Council, held on October 7.

But his statement on July 28, during the previous full council meeting, as part of a response to Cllr Angela Gunning (Lab, Stoke), appears to be at odds with today’s letter.

At that time Cllr Mansbridge said: “I have a very strong view that collectively we want to seek the journey that takes us to the strongest decision making mechanism, that is as transparent and fair as it can possibly be.

“I personally believe that the current system we have meets that, but I’m very happy to accept the hybrid system, as put in front of us as, being a derivation of that which I hope should be approved in October, will be even more successful.”

A recording of his response to Cllr Gunning can be seen on the YouTube clip below.

Stephen Mansbridge is unavailable for comment following a family bereavement.