Sefton Council Leader Dismisses Cllr Pugh's Comments as 'Petty Political Posturing'

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said:“I read with real concern the tone of Sefton Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Pugh’s petty political posturing in his recent press release.

“The decision made by the Mayor to stop the meeting on safety grounds, because of the dreadful behaviour of certain people in the public gallery at the July’s Council meeting at Southport Town Hall was sensible – unlike Cllr Pugh’s comments.

“His reminiscences about his time as an MP are irrelevant to the current situation.

“Aggressive and bullying behaviour must and will be met with a zero-tolerance approach. He should not belittle the genuine fears that councillors and staff had about their safety, in addition to the fact children were also in the gallery on the night. He should have more sense. 

“As the leader of the council, I have made the urgent decisions on certain items. The projects he refers to, pot hole repairs, road surfacing, school maintenance are in progress. Rather bizarrely, these were the very schemes both he and his Liberal Democratic councillors voted against in the council budget in March.

“Cllr Pugh, being a long serving Councillor, unsurprisingly should know this time of year is when people arrange to take family time off. His claim that councillors should have the opportunity to debate the projects he now belatedly supports is, to say the least, is odd.

“Finally, his comments in relation to the Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) Freedom of the Borough event are extremely disrespectful and misleading. The buffet and meal he refers to amounted to a bowl of scouse and sandwiches. Cllr Pugh attended the event, and at no time did he raise any concerns with me about the reception.

“The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour a Council can bestow upon an individual or an organisation. Labour councillors from across the borough believed our CVS should be recognised with this honour given all of the support volunteers gave to residents throughout Covid and the many other challenges we have faced. 

“Frankly, as a council observer on Sefton CVS, Cllr Pugh may want to consider if he is the right person to champion what is a well respected, highly valued organisation in Sefton given his inappropriate comments.”

https://eyeonsouthport.co.uk/work-held-up-as-mayor-turns-down-councillors-plea-to-meet