Tory 'soap opera' in bid to expel district council chairman (From Kidderminster Shuttle)
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Tory 'soap opera' in bid to expel district council chairman
8:00am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News
Stephen Clee: Survived the local Tories' vote to sack him from the party when he won an appeal in London.
MEMBERS of Wyre Forest Conservative Association voted to throw the district council chairman out of the party after hearing a catalogue of misconduct allegations including sending a constituent a bar of soap to “wash his mouth out” after a confrontation while canvassing.
The bizarre incident was one of 12 allegations against Stephen Clee put before the executive council of the association and which led to a decision to expel him in September.
It is understood Mr Clee took a shortcut under the window of the constituent’s home while delivering leaflets in the Bewdley area, and was challenged by the owner. Mr Clee, one of the longest serving district and county councillors in Wyre Forest and in his second year as council chairman, ignored him but posted him the soap the next day.
This prompted the constituent to write to Prime Minister David Cameron to complain.
Mr Clee chose not to speak on the charges against him at the executive meeting, but provided a written response to the allegations, including the soap-in-the-post incident.
He claimed the man used the F word several times and stated: “I ignored this outburst but when I returned home posted a bar of soap to him thinking it might clean his mouth out.
“It was not done in a vindictive way. I accept with hindsight that this may not have been the most appropriate way to deal with the situation but I was so embarrassed and upset by the tirade of abuse.”
The executive council, attended by more than 60 party members, was told that Mr Clee’s behaviour over a period of two to three years had brought him two serious disciplinary warnings and a final written warning from the local party and was serious enough to consider expulsion.
The association has repeatedly refused to comment on the vote to sack Mr Clee but details have now come to light.
According to documents seen by The Shuttle, the executive made no specific findings on the allegations. But after a three-hour hearing, there was a majority vote to expel him for conduct described as “not fitting to that which is expected from a councillor and member of the association.”
After appealing against the ruling, Mr Clee attended a hearing in London in December when the national party refused to back the executive’s decision.
So he remains an association member and is expected to defend his county council seat under the Conservative banner in the May elections.
The list of allegations against Mr Clee in the documents seen by The Shuttle included:
- Undermining the party’s successful 2010 general election campaign to get Mark Garnier elected as MP for Wyre Forest which led to a severe warning from the association. This involved omitting the prospective candidate’s literature from leaflets in Bewdley, claiming there was no campaign strategy and forecasting that Mr Garnier would not win the election.
- Producing an Aggborough & Spennells newsletter for the 2012 district council election campaign, which was “incorrect in a number of issues”. One involved featuring a photograph of two council employees, potentially compromising their position and breaking a long-standing election rule which all local parties have signed up to. This led to another warning after a complaint was made to the district council’s chief executive who is also the district returning officer.
- Behaving poorly towards another consituent who had asked for support over the Kidderminster Library gallery issue. This was highlighted in an article in The Shuttle and, it was claimed, led to the resignation of two local party members.
- As treasurer of the Bewdley branch, failing to provide annual accounts for 2010 and 2011 and not explaining why 16 stubs – six of which were subsequently found to have been made out to him – were missing from branch cheque books. Another allegation involved an expenditure of £229.71 for postage, which Mr Clee admitted had not been authorised, though it was spent on party business. There was no suggestion of dishonesty or any missing money. Bank statements for 2007-2011 tallied up correctly when subsequently obtained.
- Sending an “abusive” email to the association chairman which led to a final disciplinary warning.
- Sending an “abusive and distressing” text message to the chairman on another issue.
CLEE RESPONDED IN WRITING TO ALLEGATIONS
'WE ARE LIKE A FAMILY AND FALL OUT FROM TIME TO TIME' - CLEE
Comments(27)
tolstar
says...
9:39am Thu 28 Feb 13
Pookie100
says...
9:42am Thu 28 Feb 13
Steph B
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10:24am Thu 28 Feb 13
Red Flag Dan
says...
10:24am Thu 28 Feb 13
Wyre Forest Conservative Association thought his conduct was "not fitting to that which is expected from a councillor and member of the association", yet they now expect the the voters of Chaddesley Division to vote for him in May.
Why do they hold residents of Chaddesley and Spennells with such contempt?
kjb1
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10:47am Thu 28 Feb 13
kidderlord
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10:54am Thu 28 Feb 13
9:37am Thu 28 Feb 13
First of all, congrats to the Shuttle for finally digging out the truth and printing the story. Also congrats to "The Moule" who has obviously released the documents.
I just can not believe based on the evidence in these documents that Tory Central Office supported him and allowed his reinstatement as a member of Wyre Forest Tories. We locals are fully aware that this short list of missdemeaners represent a small proportion of his evil deeds and comments. It would appear that his County colleagues did not support this action, else why did they not support it with the details of his outrageous behaviour at the Firemans conference, and the fact he was sacked from that committee and cabinet at County Hall.
They could also have discussed his behaviour towards other colleagues, some of whom resigned from the party as a result. And to talk about "the family" - who does he think he is, The Godfather?
Sadly I don't think this newspaper is delivered in Chaddesley anymore, where he is due to stand in May, if he has been re-selected. The word needs to be spread around these people and soon. I sincerely hope that ITV Central news and BBC Midlands Today, as well as local radio stations, carry this story. I was amused at his comment about being scared of not being able to serve as a Councillor anymore - why because of the money he would be losing.
Tory Stooge
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11:01am Thu 28 Feb 13
Dave Donut
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11:49am Thu 28 Feb 13
kjb1
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12:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Jerome K
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12:16pm Thu 28 Feb 13
stour67
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12:46pm Thu 28 Feb 13
jon cooper
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2:51pm Thu 28 Feb 13
As questionable as this guys actions seem to be towards his electorate, (and also towards his own political persussion it seems): how was it ever possible that Councillor Clee was even considered of being elevated into the position of WFDC Chairman in 2011, and only a year later have the unique honour of being selected AGAIN to represent WFDC and their residents in such high office when there was obviously clear issues regarding Councillor Clee's conduct. I'm literally flabbergasted that this oversight alone on behalf of WFDC has been predictably allowed to slip through the net !
Unfortunately the question of contempt from locally elected politicians is certainly not confined to one individual or one political party here in Wyre Forest, (one only needs to read some of the comments directed at residents on the Shuttle online who dare to have a point of view to realise that). But unbeknown to WFDC, this contempt is making a mockery of a so called democratic and fair governance in the district.
How is it possible that contemptuous politicians are even considered to represent the residents of Wyre Forest in a fair and balanced way by the hand of the members of full council who should really know better - it's insane !
If the members of WFDC are too cowardly to do the right thing, then it's high time that the constituents of the district were allowed to vote in their own chairperson who is responsible and adult enough to act on their behalf within the council chamber, and in a dignified and democratic fashion !
Bewdlnd
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5:09pm Thu 28 Feb 13
LOL.
Cynical Sid
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5:51pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Tory Stooge
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6:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Pseudonym24
says...
7:57pm Thu 28 Feb 13
I do not believe now is the time for petty in-house fighting, we should be putting the electorate first.
We should be highlighting the barbaric outcome of the Conservative's "bedroom tax" and the effect it is having on rural and town residents being forced from their homes.
Also the dangers of our rural and town deliveries being lost from the outcome of the privatisation of the Royal Mail.
emjaypee
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8:48pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Jon D
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9:28pm Thu 28 Feb 13
DOEPUBLIC
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12:23am Fri 1 Mar 13
tolstar
says...
12:11pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Tory Stooge wrote:Tory Stooge, it is just a matter of looking at the facts laid out on the table and the judgement must be that he has no further place as a councillor, no justification can be found for him to continue in public service and he is a liability to any political party.
This is a deliberate attempt to end Stephen's political career. He is a longtime serving councillor and has seen a lot of things. His knowledge of the Association is second to none. It's disgraceful that some anonymous, two-faced association member has knifed Stephen in the back. They are cowards and should be ashamed of themselves. He was exonerated by Central Office in London for god's sake!
Jane Gordon
says...
7:05am Sat 2 Mar 13
Clee is hardly a good role model.
We should not tolerate this sort of behavior. This is not the sort of person that should be making decisions that effects our local area.
Europeanist64
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6:10pm Sat 2 Mar 13
Primrose Coley
says...
10:38am Tue 5 Mar 13
GGmommy
says...
11:29am Wed 6 Mar 13
tolstar wrote:"deliberate attempt to end Stephens career" Too right it is - no-one seems to want him representing them apart from some paper pusher distanced in London. If he is the best that they can do then it doesnt say much for the party!
Tory Stooge wrote:Tory Stooge, it is just a matter of looking at the facts laid out on the table and the judgement must be that he has no further place as a councillor, no justification can be found for him to continue in public service and he is a liability to any political party.
This is a deliberate attempt to end Stephen's political career. He is a longtime serving councillor and has seen a lot of things. His knowledge of the Association is second to none. It's disgraceful that some anonymous, two-faced association member has knifed Stephen in the back. They are cowards and should be ashamed of themselves. He was exonerated by Central Office in London for god's sake!
Abusive emails and texts? Going to the bother of posting soap to a constituent and inadequate accounting....really
? What a poor reflection! How is he even still in this position?
Tory Stooge
says...
11:35am Wed 6 Mar 13
He's a Great British Hero.
GGmommy
says...
1:42pm Wed 6 Mar 13
""selfless
adj
having little concern for one's own interests""
so everything has been done from the goodness of his heart with no benefit to him? Hmmm?
Respectable says...
8:26am Thu 28 Feb 13
Undermining the party’s successful 2010 general election campaign to get Mark Garnier elected as MP for Wyre Forest which led to a severe warning from the association. This involved omitting the prospective candidate’s literature from leaflets in Bewdley, claiming there was no campaign strategy and forecasting that Mr Garnier would not win the election.
Producing an Aggborough & Spennells newsletter for the 2012 district council election campaign, which was “incorrect in a number of issues”. One involved featuring a photograph of two council employees, potentially compromising their position and breaking a long-standing election rule which all local parties have signed up to. This led to another warning after a complaint was made to the district council’s chief executive who is also the district returning officer.
Behaving poorly towards another consituent who had asked for support over the Kidderminster Library gallery issue. This was highlighted in an article in The Shuttle and, it was claimed, led to the resignation of two local party members.
As treasurer of the Bewdley branch, failing to provide annual accounts for 2010 and 2011 and not explaining why 16 stubs – six of which were subsequently found to have been made out to him – were missing from branch cheque books. Another allegation involved an expenditure of £229.71 for postage, which Mr Clee admitted had not been authorised, though it was spent on party business. There was no suggestion of dishonesty or any missing money. Bank statements for 2007-2011 tallied up correctly when subsequently obtained.
Sending an “abusive” email to the association chairman which led to a final disciplinary warning.
Sending an “abusive and distressing” text message to the chairman on another issue.
Not really major offences but catalogued together... Makes this buffoon look like the "David Brent" of local Politics....Might be time to grow up a bit or get the hell out of it..