Macclesfield: Cheshire East Council Leader and Deputy react to Downing Street drama

By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter 8th Jul 2022

Sam Corcoran and Craig Browne represent the two parties which are in co-adminisration in Cheshire East Council. (Image - Cheshire East Council)
Sam Corcoran and Craig Browne represent the two parties which are in co-adminisration in Cheshire East Council. (Image - Cheshire East Council)

Cheshire East Council's Labour leader has attacked Conservative MPs for supporting Boris Johnson 'long after it became clear he was lacking in integrity'.

Cllr Sam Corcoran (Sandbach Heath, Labour) also took a swipe at Congleton MP Fiona Bruce, who has failed to let constituents know her views on the Boris Johnson saga over the past few months.

Speaking after Mr Johnson announced he was resigning, Cllr Corcoran said: "It amazed me how many Conservative MPs were willing to support Boris Johnson long after it became clear he was lacking in integrity and even after he was found to have broken a law that he set.

"I was shocked my own MP, Fiona Bruce, didn't speak out against his unethical behaviour and I am sure she will now be embarrassed to have been so fulsomely praised by Boris Johnson in response to her question at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday."

Sam Corcoran outside Cheshire East HQ in Sandbach. (Image - Cheshire East Council)

Deputy council leader Craig Browne (Independent Group) said the PM's resignation had surprised no-one.

He added the country needed politicians who put people before party.

The Alderley Edge councillor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The Prime Minister's resignation today comes as little surprise to anyone, as it had become clear that his position was untenable.

"The important question that must now be asked is who, if anyone, within the Conservative Party – or for that matter, the Labour Party – is fit to replace him?

Alderley Edge Councillor and Independent Group Leader Craig Browne, pictured outside Westfields in Sandbach. (Image - Cheshire East Council)

"Mr Johnson was largely elected on a mandate of 'getting Brexit done', but beyond this slogan his successor needs to have a clear plan to deliver meaningful change which addresses the key issues facing both our country and our communities today, namely: levelling up, highways and transport, cost inflation and business supply chain issues, energy and the environment, as well as Britain's role as a strategic international partner."

He added: "Over the last few years we have started to see a growing public frustration with the tired old politics of left or right, red or blue, Labour or Conservative and the tribalism they both represent.

"At local level, as independents, we have sought to offer an honest, hard-working and credible alternative.

"At the local elections in May 2022, more independent councillors were elected across the country than ever before, but to date this has not translated into independent MPs being elected to Westminster; this needs to change.

Boris Johnson announced his resignation as Prime Minister at 12:30pm on Thursday. (Image - CC 3.0 Unchanged bit.ly/3nJOABM Open Government Licence)

"If the national political events of recent weeks and months demonstrate anything, it is that Westminster is in desperate need of an independent political conscience, that isn't bound by party loyalty.

"We need politicians who act in the best interests of the people, rather than in that of their own party."

Sam Corcoran became a councillor in 2011, while Craig Browne was first elected four years later. They are Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council until next year.

See Also: Macclesfield MP: 'My loyalty and integrity stretched to the limit' says David Rutley with PM exit

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