Letter: Are There Conflicts of Interests in GVG Chairman’s Position as a Candidate?

Published on: 19 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 19 Jan, 2019

From Andrew Whitby-Collins

In response to: Over 300 Attend Independent Candidates’ Meeting – Organiser Encouraged by Support

I understand that at Tuesday’s meeting held under the umbrella of “Residents for Guildford and Villages” Mr Rigg announced he intends to stand for election to Guildford Borough Council.

As the chairman and sole director of GVG, and in light of his reference to the right to question, will he now answer the questions which have been posed before, namely: i) does GVG have a conflicts of interest policy; ii) does it have a register of interests for its director and will he publish it, and iii) what, if any, conflicts or potential conflicts exist regarding the professional relationships of its director in light of its proposals?

Will he also answer the same questions for Guildford Neighbourhood Forum, the sole shareholder in GVG of which he, Julian Lyon and Bill Stokoe, all of whom have announced their intention to stand for the local Council, are the directors.

Responses to Letter: Are There Conflicts of Interests in GVG Chairman’s Position as a Candidate?

Ben Paton Reply

January 20, 2019 at 9:36 am

The Guildford branch of the Conservative Party appears to believe that rather than justify the policies and decisions that it has pushed through without scrutiny on the back of its majority, it can criticise everyone else. It engages in Punch & Judy politics rather than with the facts. No one needs to be told who the council’s Mr Punch is.

As Lord Acton said: “It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.”