Dragon Interview: Former Borough Councillor Nils Christiansen

Published on: 12 Jul, 2019
Updated on: 18 Jul, 2019

Nils Christiansen

Former councillor Nils Christiansen was elected in 2015 as a Conservative Borough Councillor for Holy Trinity Ward in Guildford town centre.

Many tipped him for an Executive post in the Tory administration led by Paul Spooner but promotion was not forthcoming and Nils was prepared to speak out on certain issues. In the run-up to the recent election, he was deselected along with several others and was one of the three Conservative councillors who defected to form the Independent Alliance (together with Colin Cross from the Lib Dems).

In this interview, Nils looks back on his time as a councillor and takes a critical look at some of the leadership and council practices and standards.

At one stage the videoing of councillor training sessions is mentioned. We have checked with Guildford Borough Council and such training sessions are recorded and made accessible only to other councillors, who might not have been available to attend the training. A council spokesperson said that participants are made aware of the filming. Of the two councillors we checked this with one said he was aware of the recording of training sessions and another that he was not.

Responses to Dragon Interview: Former Borough Councillor Nils Christiansen

David Carter Reply

July 14, 2019 at 12:30 pm

What a great interview which clearly explained the bullying management style under the previous Executive. I admired Nils Christiansen’s clarity of thought, and sensible balanced judgement on the many issues he spoke on at council meetings and feel angrier than ever that the Conservatives effectively bullied him out of their party.

Guildford needs people like Nils Christiansen helping to steer the ship and hope that he puts himself forward at any by-election and that Cllr Reeves and/or Cllr Bigmore finds a way of tapping into his talent.
Colin Cross Reply

July 15, 2019 at 10:20 am

In the introduction, paragraph 2, it is written that Nils Christiansen was one of the three councillors who defected to form the Independent Alliance.

Nils was actually the fourth and last to do so and many months after it was formed.

Perhaps this can be corrected?

Colin Cross is the R4GV borough councillor for Lovelace (Ripley, Wisley and Ockham).

Editor’s comment: Thank you for pointing out this error. The article has now been corrected.
Jules Cranwell Reply

July 17, 2019 at 4:37 pm

Having viewed the interview, it is clear that the loss of Nils is a loss to local democracy.

He clearly has a huge intellect, in contrast to the appalling level of mediocrity evidenced by the previous leadership. To have denied him an executive role, on the basis of a question (covertly recorded) at a training system, was typical of that regime. Independence of thought or any dissent was not welcome.

His comments on the lack of adherence to the spirit of the Nolan Principles were spot on.

Let’s hope the new regime takes note and brings back democracy and openness at the council.

If any by-elections take place I hope Nil please consider standing. GBC needs his intellect and talent.