Many people are still mystified about the suspension of Rogerstone Councillor by the Labour Group on Newport Council.
The reasons given to the Argus by Chris are implausible self-serving fiction in my view based on long experience as an elected representative in Newport since 1972. The Argus printed an edited version of my response. One key paragraph omitted by the Argus from my letter to Chris read:
"I am very proud of the Labour Party in Newport. You and I both stand on the shoulders of giants. Aubrey Hames, Mary Dunn, Fred Edwards, Edna Bosley, John Marsh–all great idealists who devoted their lives to the wellbeing of the city they loved. Many of the people of Newport have deep seated loyalty and trust in the Labour Party. They deserve to be served with honesty and the truth."
Last year I sued a would-be local politico for lying about me in a national TV programme. The lie was blatant and baseless. I sued successfully mainly because i could not have my reputation trashed and also because I do not want to see Newport politics degraded by those with scant regard for the truth. That is why the truth must be revealed on the reasons for the Group's decision. Falsehoods have been published that could poison public opinion against my party unfairly. They must and will be challenged. There has been no contact between me and the group and I do not know their reasons for making no detailed statement on the suspension. That's their decision.
A few clues may be emerging in the responses on the web to the Argus story. I re-print some of them below. They have all already been published by the Argus and have not been deleted as many comments are on their site. The importance of these anonymous contributions is that they raise issues that were absent from Chris' statement to the Argus but they hint of situations that could lead to suspension from a Council Group. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of any claims but I welcome evidence so that the people of Newport are not deceived. Political morality is the issue. We must protect the truth nationally and locally.
Mickey Nine
1:46pm Thu 25 Feb 16
...Although in all fairness to Paul Flynn, he doesn't work for a listings magazine that he founded. Chris Evans has a vested interest in the Market which lies outside his ward as its a source of advertising revenue. Check Voice Magazine then take a look at Mr Evans' Twitter account and see how many of the cities independent businesses are referenced that 'do not' advertise with the magazine few to none but I'm sure that's just coincidence. The opening of Fiars Walk and rerouting of the bus service was always going to have an immediate negative impact on certain areas of the city centre and this would have been apparent to most, yet Mr Evans is happy for a photo opportunity at the New development while simultaneously decrying the lack of support for small local business... well at least those paying for the privilege of his support. Unfortunately for Mr Evans, Newport residents and business owners it is difficult to differentiate between the salesman and the politician. Give it a few months and he'll resurface as an independent, championing the cause of those with enough spare cash for a double page spread.
Councillor9
5:11pm Wed 24 Feb 16
“As a drama queen you habitually construct crises in which you cast yourself as a hero.” This was quoted by Paul Flynn I have to agree this is true. I will say it again, Chris only put forward residents concerns about destroying more green open space in Rogerstone despite over 1000 houses on Jubilee Park already built and affordable housing numbers have been met. This was his job to do this but he DID NOT SUPPORT the residents unlike Cllr Mlewa. He was prepared for open space to be taken away and actually suggested selling the land to SEREN in the first place despite Rogerstone having a large shortfall in open space compared to the rest of Wales! He is always championing himself so is not a victim in all of this but merely another piece of the council who are ruthless in pursuit of having their own way.
karma police 2016
2:28pm Wed 24 Feb 16
In advance of hearing from the party, and although this seems regrettable to say the least, Chris Evans hasn't really covered himself in glory in recent times. He was quite vicious in his views about Jeremy Corbyn and then worst still, acted like a petulant child when Corbyn was overwhelmingly voted in, not a great trait to have and less than supportive to say the least.
In addition, as much as we would all like to be progressive, the constant toadying up to Tories on social media was getting a bit nauseating. If Chris hold such centre right views then you have to ask why he decided to run as a Labour candidate in the first place. And he hasn't covered himself in glory with some of his comments so maybe a dignified silence would have been better.
That said, he is a nice man and hopefully all this will come out in the wash. It's certainly unsavoury, and lets hope its dealt with as soon as possible so the real issues can be addressed.
Report
Where's The Any Key?
1:13pm Wed 24 Feb 16
This is all very Tory-like if you ask me. Cllr Evans gets suspended and the first thing that happens is that his comrades at the SWA write a story giving him the chance turn himself into a martyr and man of the people.
I hope nobody is falling for it personally. Cllr Evans is regularly afforded the use of the Argus to support and promote his causes. Does the Argus do this for other councillors? I don't think so and if any stories for other councillors appear they are usually small and soon forgotten.
In a few days I expect the Argus to release a commemorative edition of the newspaper marking Cllr Evans' time in office and giving us chance to remember the wonderful things he has done.It'll be packed with adverts from his chums at the market and surrounding areas but the centre pages will obviously be a poster for us to all put in our living room windows demanding that Labour "Return The Rogerstone Rebel." At the back will be a donation form for us to send money to the campaign for a statue to be built in his honour.
Current options for the placement of the statue include Friars Walk (so that people will see it) or on the land in Rogerstone where our hero may or may not want houses built (I'm not clear on his stance sorry).
Although, thinking about it, why limit it to one statue? Let's build loads, all in different chest puffing poses, and this could be like those colourful dragons all over again! Only less visually appealing obviously.
councillor9 wrote…
Councillor Evans has had his knuckles rapped for raising residents issues about the proposed Seren development on Tregwilym Road. Whilst i do not agree with the treatment of Mr Evans, who was merely doing his job by voicing residents concerns, but it is worth pointing out that Mr Evans supports the development and and is on record saying such despite the deficit in green open space in Rogerstone. This was always about generating money for NCC budget due to cuts and residents concerns and wellbeing have been ignored. An absolute scandal how this application has been handled. Look on the application website to see the huge number of objections posted which have not been addressed. All issues need to be addressed even if that means funding for the developer is lost or another councillor is suspended.
Sparebulb Cazin
11:35pm Wed 24 Feb 16
My point is simply that if you have a councillor who works out of the same building as the Argus, is paid by the same company, makes a big issue over things outside his ward (unless Newport Market has been relocated and nobody mentioned it) and publish and be damned despite the council about to enter a meeting to vote on the budget (which concerns most of us so might be described as news) then the rush to announce a councillor losing the whip (which is small beer) smacks of…
Regardless, you don’t lose the whip by accident, not like a job, a proper job, where you wake up one day and it is gone. Councillor Evens still has his job, both as a councillor and employee of Newsquest, so was this breaking news?
riverebbw
4:17pm Wed 24 Feb 16
So not toeing the party line is a reason for suspension? We wouldn't have any political parties at the moment due to all the EU debate going on. As it said Mr Flynn disagrees with his own party at times and his service is to be congratulated. Mr Evans is seen as being proactive along with the rest of the Rogerstone cllrs. To me there must be more to this and I'm sure it will come to light at some point.
KarloMarko wrote…
That's why Evan's attempt to drag in ideology and the hard left (in Newport? No-one told me), is so much self serving window dressing. He's a popululist self-promoter who has now got on the wrong side of a Labour group whose sole function is to promote and secure development, by any means necessary. The alpha and omega of their entire politics. Friars being a headline example of everything else being subservient. Chris Evans is a small town politician with a small town polity, he should have read the writing, the letters were big enough.
KarloMarko
8:07pm Tue 23 Feb 16
He's the Market Martyr. The Chris One. The hard left (Bob the Bolshevik) demanded that the worker and pensioner buses go straight to Friars Walk to speed the Revolution. Comrade Chris fearlessly hurled himself in their path as the traders cowered behind him, armed only with the Sun, a net curtain and a Turner's pork chop.
Kevin Ward - Editor Sparebulb
4:23pm Wed 24 Feb 16
To clarify, Cllr Evans' employment has never been a secret. He is not employed by the Argus and does not work for me. He is employed by our parent company, Newsquest, and runs Voice magazine, which he founded independently more than a decade ago.
We do not report on Cllr Evans' activities because he is a Newsquest employee, but because he is an elected city councillor.
The majority of councillors are in full-time employment. All councillors have a duty to report any potential conflicts of interest.
Kevin Ward - Editor Sparebulb
12:05pm Thu 25 Feb 16
Just to add facts to the conspiracy theory. News of Cllr Evans' suspension was first reported on this website on Tuesday evening, after it had been made public on social media. The council met to discuss its budget on Wednesday evening.
The budget meeting was reported live on this website in farm more detail than Cllr Evans' suspension.
There is a clear public interest in reporting the suspension of a councillor, particularly for those council taxpayers in the Rogerstone ward who elected him.
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