New Tory shadow cabinet announced for Swindon Council
This year's local election results mean the authority is now being run by Labour
Last updated 26th May 2023
The new leader of Swindon Conservative councillors has named the group’s shadow cabinet.
And it is a mix of experience and youth, with four members of the last cabinet being given posts and four previously backbench councillors being drafted in.
The group leader Gary Sumner also has the shadow responsibility for economy, planning and highways, and the deputy leader Dale Heenan will speak for the group on matters regarding effective local services.
The former cabinet member for finance and climate change Keith Williams is now the shadow member for “fair and affordable net zero “and Matty Courtliff who was the culture and leisure cabinet member keeps the leisure portfolio in opposition, but also gets responsibility for finance.
The new members are Lawrence Elliott, shadow cabinet member for adults and health, Jo Morris who gets responsibility got children’s services, Dan Smith the shadow member for communities and public safety and Jake Chandler will be the shadow cabinet member for “a great place to live and work”.
'We will do all we can to hold Labour to account'
Coun Sumner said: “Our new shadow cabinet is ready to ask the difficult questions, and work hard for local residents. Dale and I were keen to see the Conservatives represent everyone in our town so we have a good spread of age and experience.
“We will continue working on our priorities and commit to ensuring that when the time comes, we are ready to leap into action again as an effective administration. The Conservative group now has time to explore fresh ideas and develop our policies.
“Rest assured, we are going to do all we can to hold Labour to account and improve the lives of local residents.”
Coun Heenan added: “Whilst in opposition, the Conservatives are determined to continue getting things done for local residents.
“We have three key messages; we will ensure that Swindon is a great place to live and work; we will ensure residents have effective local services and we will hold Labour to account. The new leadership is already starting to make excuses and their first official decision was to scrap all May and June council meetings.
“On the one hand, I hope that they aren’t going to make rash decisions in a whirlwind of early enthusiasm but equally, dozens of elected members sitting around doing nothing because they need more time to come up with a clear plan won’t help the people of Swindon.”