Former senior councillor told to apologise for jibe
Apr 11 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal
A FORMER senior councillor has been told to make a formal apology for personal comments he made to a political opponent during a heated council chamber debate.
Bob Watson – a leading Labour member of the now-defunct Blyth Valley Borough Council – has been found guilty by the authority’s standards panel of failing to comply with its code of conduct.
The ruling followed a complaint against Mr Watson by Liberal Democrat borough councillor Penny Reid that he failed to treat her with respect during a meeting of the council in October last year.
Mrs Reid is the wife of Jeff Reid, the then leader of the opposition group Lib Dem group on the borough council and leader of the new unitary county council.
Her complaint referred to remarks which Mr Watson made during a debate on council funding for the campaign to save Seaton Delaval Hall for public use. He made reference to “political pillow talk” between Mr and Mrs Reid, which she took exception to.
The standards panel ruled his comments had been perceived as “crossing the threshold of personal attack during a political debate”. It formally censured him and told him to apologise in writing to Mrs Reid.
Yesterday Mrs Reid said Mr Watson had failed to apologise to her, despite being given two opportunities to do so prior to the standards panel hearing. “I made the complaint because what was said went outside the hurly-burly and banter of politics, which I am quite used to.
“It referred to my relationship and being married to the leader of the county council. The comments clearly implied that I was not putting the best interests of Blyth Valley and the people I represent first, and was using the marital bed to tittle-tattle to my husband.
“Mr Watson was totally out of order but has refused to apologise to me, so I was left with no option but to take it to the standards panel. If he fails to apologise as directed he is not only showing contempt for me but also for the standards panel.’’
Yesterday Mr Watson said he has lodged an appeal against the panel’s decision with the Standards Board for England, and feels he has nothing to apologise for. “This happened during a debate about funding for Seaton Delaval Hall when I believed we were being given wrong information by Jeff Reid.”
Mr Watson and Mrs Reid are no longer councillors following the abolition of Blyth Valley Council on March 31 under the switch to unitary local government.
