Bid to replace Isle of Wight council leader withdrawn
The authority's Alliance had faced a motion of no confidence
The leader of the Isle of Wight Council has survived another day after a motion of no confidence was withdrawn.
Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, who has been in charge of the authority since May 2021, was set to face a motion of no confidence as part of a Full Council meeting on Wednesday (July 19th).
It had been tabled by Cllr Chris Jarman — formerly a member of Cllr Peacey-Wilcox’s Alliance Administration and now leader of Empowering Islanders — but was withdrawn after the new Conservative group leader at County Hall, Cllr Suzie Ellis, said it did not reflect the approach she is taking with the party.
Cllr Jarman’s motion sought to remove Cllr Peacey-Wilcox and create a coalition cabinet under a Conservative leadership.
Speaking tonight, however, he said Cllr Ellis had told him they would not take the opportunity tonight to remove the leader and cabinet.
He said more time had been requested to further determine the policy and structure of the proposed coalition and respecting the request, he withdrew the motion.
Cllr Ellis thanked Cllr Jarman for withdrawing it and said the current motion did not reflect the steps the party will be taking going forward.
The challenge to Cllr Peacey-Wilcox’s leadership came after a turbulent few months within the Alliance Administration, losing four members and vacating two crucial cabinet positions — finance and adult social care.