'Blogger off', gossip is ordered

Alex Gore • Published 25 Feb 2012 17:00 3 Comments

THE bitter divisions in the ranks of Reading's two main political parties were exposed this week when a bid by leading Conservative Richard Willis' to rock the Labour administration's boat backfired.

During the borough councill meeting Cllr Willis challenged Labour leader Jo Lovelock to say whether party colleague Jon Hartley was responsible for prematurely leaking plans shortly before Christmas to axe chief executive Michael Coughlin.

Denying that Cllr Hartley was at the meeting when Labour's plans for Mr Couglin were discussed, she turned on Cllr Willis, describing him as a "blogger who enjoys imparting tittle-tattle", and pointing out he was himself named as a ringleader of the faction inside the Tory party which got Cllr Jamie Chowdhary deselected from his Peppard seat.

At that Cllr Chowdhary started thumping the desk and shouted: "Thank you, thank you. Very well said!"

Cllr Willis replied that he had seen the Hartley leak revelation on the internet blog of former Reading East Labour MP Jane Griffiths, who recently published her debut novel.

Cllr Lovelock retorted: "I understand she has taken to writting fiction - she has been practising for many years."

The Chronicle exclusively revealed last year how Cllr Chowdhary had defected to the Reading West Conservative Association, accompanied by former group leader Cllr Andrew Cumpsty and Cllr Mark Ralph, following infighting in Reading East.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 23 Feb 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Spiddly
  Unregistered User
  Feb 26, 20:39
  Report comment

  Comedy!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 7     No 0

• 

  AbbeyHabit
  1 post
  Feb 27, 14:02
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  Nice bit of misdirection from Lovelock there, Hartley didn't have to be at meeting to know about the planned trashing of the Chief Executive. It's not the first time he's gone round shouting his mouth off in public about Labour Party matters and been overheard.
  
  The spite from Lovelock shows she really does not like Janestheone does she, is it that it keeps getting things right?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 9     No 0

• 

  G O D
  Unregistered User
  Feb 27, 17:20
  Report comment

  And these people are in charge why exactly? 300 years ago we'd be throwing fruit and veg at the equivalent in the centre of a village. Progress; not quite what its cracked up to be eh?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 7     No 0

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