Leader of West Sussex County Council accused of ‘political blackmail of a high order’

A councillor has accused the leader of West Sussex County Council of ‘political blackmail of a high order’.

Dr James Walsh (Lib Dem, Littlehampton East) spoke during a meeting of the full council on Friday (February 17) saying he had been told by an ‘impeccable source’ that threats to withdraw funding had been made by Paul Marshall.

Dr Walsh said: “It has come to my attention, from a impeccable source, that the leader of this council is threatening Worthing and Arun councillors with the withdrawal of capital funding for public realm projects if they don’t go along with some of his wishes in other areas.

“This is political blackmail of a high order, in my view, and should have no place in local government.

“I call on the leader to proceed no further with those measures.”

Dr Walsh did not reveal his source and neither Mr Marshall nor any other member of the council responded to the accusation during the meeting.

A spokesman for the county council later said that no complaints had been made and neither the council nor Mr Marshall would be commenting.

Worthing councillor Caroline Baxter, leader of the Labour group, said: “I’ve not been made aware of any threats towards Worthing Council in regard to capital funding.

“Threatening withdrawal of capital funding for not going along with someone’s ‘wishes’ is a very serious matter.

“Of course, if Dr Walsh’s comments are true in respect of Arun Council, then I would recommend complaints are made accordingly.”