Norfolk County Council leader Derrick Murphy.

Norfolk County Council Conservatives back their leader Derrick Murphy - but expel one of his accusers

Richard Wheeler Friday, August 31, 2012
2:56 PM

An attempt to oust Norfolk County Council leader Derrick Murphy failed today - with one of the men who called for his removal expelled from the Conservative group.

A motion of no confidence in Mr Murphy’s leadership was put before the county council Tories today by West Norfolk duo John Dobson and Brian Long.

This was defeated after a vote among Tory councillors at County Hall, in Martineau Lane, Norwich.

Mr Dobson, county councillor for the Dersingham division, was then expelled from the group after complaints were made against his conduct. This expulsion is expected to last until the council’s next elections in May 2013.

Mr Dobson said: “I’ve been expelled from the Conservative group to the county council this morning. The vote result of how many voted for me or against me was not given.

“I want to emphasise I’m still a Conservative, I’m still a full Conservative Party member and I am still a county council member and the expulsion doesn’t carry forward after the end of this council, so the council will dissolve in May next year for an election.

“When that election is held, I’ve been selected as a candidate for the Conservative Party for Dersingham, where I am a sitting councillor.”

Today’s motion was the first time Mr Murphy’s position has been formally debated by the Tory county council group.

Mr Dobson added: “I didn’t expect it to go any other way but it needed to be done to clear the air and I think it’s done that.”

Mr Murphy, before the meeting, stated he had done nothing wrong and his accusers were not “Mother Teresa and her sister”.

He said today: “The vote of confidence in me was confirmed. As it was completely in confidence, I can’t tell you the result.

“The group seemed to be fairly happy.”

Mr Murphy said Mr Dobson had been censured in November 2011 and further complaints had been received.

Mr Murphy continued: “I must point out, John Dobson has a right to appeal. In the meantime he is expelled from the group.”

The Tory leader added: “I don’t want to sound odd but I don’t think the vote of confidence would go any way apart from the way it did.”

The votes at today’s meeting are the latest developments which highlights the worsening relationship between Norfolk’s Tories.

A bitter dispute has emerged between West Norfolk Council and the county council over the planned incinerator at King’s Lynn.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles called in the proposal yesterday, causing a public inquiry next year.

An independent inquiry into Mr Murphy’s conduct has also been set up by the county council’s senior standards enforcer.

This will examine the leader’s role in an email sent by a taxpayer-funded Conservative political assistant, which suggested questions to BBC Radio Norfolk.

The email sent by Kevin Vaughan stated that West Norfolk Council leader Nick Daubney was facing a leadership challenge and was struggling to come up with an alternative technology to the proposed waste plant at Saddlebow.

Elsewhere, the North West Norfolk Conservative Association has raised concerns about Mr Murphy’s conduct in a letter to party co-chairman Baroness Warsi, while the South West Norfolk association has written to the South Norfolk association, where Mr Murphy is expected to stand in next year’s council elections, asking them to consider allegations he had brought the party into disrepute.

31 comments

I agree with all comments however we will fight this one all the way remember they haven't actual purchased the site yet and although I know it will probably go through do not underestimate the Badersfield Community we will fight and have been already - what we have dealt with so far would make your toes curl. The lies and deceit is unbearable but we are ever hopeful. We just need to get rid of Dodgy Derrick and Iffy Cliffy and their team - and yes I am tarring with them all with the same brush because I have seen them in action up close and personal and believe me they are not a pretty site! They lie like an old ten bob watch they can't even get their stories straight with each other the whole thing if is wasn't so serious is a joke. Call me very naive but I never imagined that this sort of thing went on at this so called professional level. But then it is politics so I suppose they are no different to any other politician. It is just so sad that people like this run our county and country and disregard the electorate and residents totally. Surely someone somewhere is answerable and if not why do we have the vote? Poor Emily Pankhurst must be rolling around in her grave. I always thought that we were a democratic society well now I really am doubting that. How can such a shambolic team run this project it is a complete joke. Oh yes the lip service they give us is all the right murmurings in the right places but it is never going to happen. They will asset strip and then leave us the residents to pick up the mess. In fact they have already started and they haven't even got the place yet.....Time to go Murphy and Co get out and leave us alone.....We want sympathetic development not total devastation.

Report this comment

Slosers13

Monday, September 3, 2012
Dickens, you poor love I assume you're having a pop because I put you in your place over on the LN site where you're hiding behind the name 'littletony'? You are right for once, we're all entitled to an opinion but I would suggest that if you want to brand anyone with an accusation of petty minded remarks then you look to your own front door before trying to tar someone else with that thick brush you're holding? Has a pal at NCC put you up to the job of constantly trying to smear Daubney and Long online I wonder?

Report this comment

Fenscape

Sunday, September 2, 2012
Not many dared to raise their head over the parapet in this vote, due to self interest, double and triple hatters all enjoying their stint at 'serving' the Conservative communities, they all like there to be no change. Andy Gardiner has shown a new agenda, its called Independents, people you choose to be your leaders and who pledge to serve all of the community, especially those who have been left out of have no vote. Be assured that CLLR. Murphy will make it easy for you to forget all about party politics.

Report this comment

ingo wagenknecht

Sunday, September 2, 2012
Cyril, you may be overlooking the desperation factor.

Report this comment

Honest John

Sunday, September 2, 2012
The incinerator will not be built at Badersfield. One of the main reasons holding up development there is because it is in the middle of nowhere with poor road links. NCC may be bonkers but even they realise that.

Report this comment

Cyril the Canary

Sunday, September 2, 2012
Slosers13 - sorry, but I don't think Citizen of EUSSR is worrying residents of Badersfield unnecessarily, I think they should be VERY worried as this is just the sort of stunt NCC could pull. There's a very good reason for buying the old airbase, and with the amount of money they've gambled on the Tory Wheelabrator Incinerator, it will be built somewhere!

Report this comment

Norfolk and Good

Saturday, September 1, 2012
The Conservatives are so stupid! This was their chance to gain some credibility and keep more seats than they will now manage in the coming elections. Never mind they have shot themselves in the foot yet again. John Dobson is, and has been for many years, a very well respected Councillor. I look forward to what he will do in the future!!!

Report this comment

Joy, King's Lynn

Saturday, September 1, 2012
And by the way Citizen of EUSSR the incinerator will NEVER come to Badersfield we have made sure of that so please do not worry residents unnecessarily. We have enough on plates to deal with at this moment in time and chucking that one into the pot simply is not helping or constructive. We have Murphy and his terrible team sussed so don't you worry. What we are dealing with at the moment and have dealt with already would make your toes curl........You want to see a fight with the Murphy crew? Watch this space the residents are revolting in big way!!! WE ARE ON THE CASE THEY WILL NOT WRECK BADERSFIELD AT ANY COST.......over our dead bodies and there will probably be some casualties along the way. NCC? BRING IT ON!!!!

Report this comment

Slosers13

Saturday, September 1, 2012
Cannot not any one else in NCC see what is going on here or are they all dancing to Murphy's tune? What are they SO afraid of by standing up his bully boy tactics? Loosing their jobs and expense accounts at our cost? Come on for goodness sake this man and his team are driving politics to an all time dirty low how long is this going to be allowed to go on for? Surely someone somewhere is answerable to all this deplorable behaviour? How can this go on in this day and age in a so called democratic society? WE are the electorate please take notice of us we unfortunately and to our cost put Murphy and his team where they are today and to our cost have paid the price. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH GET RID ONCE AND FOR ALL AND STOP USING SCAPEGOATS TO SORT OUT THIS DREADFUL BEHAVIOUR............

Report this comment

Slosers13

Saturday, September 1, 2012
Citizen of EUSSR - don't you think we have enough on our plate without you stirring this sort of thing up? The residents of Badersfield and surrounding villages are well aware of what Murphy and his deplorable team are up to - we are way ahead of your thinking and already have plans in motion to stop this disgusting behaviour - please do not worry local residents any more than they already are. We have so much on our plates to contend with without all this too. The incinerator is the VERY VERY least of our worries believe me. What we know would make your toes curl but then again you knowing what Murphy and his team is capable of maybe not.....Fight - they haven't seen anything yet we the local residents are NOT to be meddled with.....Tories? - what party is that again? NEVER ever heard of them!!!! We are on the case Citizen of EUSSR rest assured we are most definitely on the case ........

Report this comment

Slosers13

Saturday, September 1, 2012
Alan, the news about Palm Paper hasn't reached the east of the county yet. So Murphy has a hatful of conduct complaints about his conduct ignored, and points a finger at someone who's done what, stood on a crack in the pavement?

Report this comment

Honest John

Saturday, September 1, 2012
Can't wait to see how the Conservative voters react in the Broads area when Eric Pickles stops the incinerator from being built at Kings Lynn and NCC decide to use their own site in Coltishall! Broadland District Council have already shown their support for the Incinerator project so they can hardly object to one being built on their own doorstep! LOL

Report this comment

Citizen of EUSSR

Saturday, September 1, 2012
No wonder Norfolk is known as the home of the Turnip Taliban.

Report this comment

Peter Watson

Friday, August 31, 2012
Let us not ignore the attraction of cash. The Murphy twins pick up between them £50k in allowances from NCC, and that is before expenses. Each has outside employment interests, according to their declarations in the members' register of interests. How many families in Norfolk have that level of income from part time employment? Perhaps this is the real reason why they hang on by the skin of their teeth. Possibly Derrick isn't just looking for a knighthood for services to local government.

Report this comment

Nemesis

Friday, August 31, 2012
Now Palm Paper has said they never intended to use energy from the incinerator and will concentrate on building their own energy plant. No PFI funding the burner then.

Report this comment

Alan Allan

Friday, August 31, 2012
The Tory Group have made a rod for their own backs. With the incinerator being called in would have taken the pressure off Langwade, Michleburg, Hutson and Rockcliffe for neglecting their constituents in their hour of need. While Murphy is on the scene they have little chance of getting voted back into office in May 2013.On polling day I expect the opposition will be reminding the public how they let them down.

Report this comment

batemansusan

Friday, August 31, 2012
Slippery as an eel ? !

Report this comment

Jaguar

Friday, August 31, 2012
Dobson & Long show some backbone and do what is right for their electorate - what next for Murphy? Election wipe out wherever he stands in Norfolk hopefully.

Report this comment

depressed Norfolk

Friday, August 31, 2012
Of course this was the only possible outcome. Quite why anyone reading this paper thought otherwise remains a mystery. By the way Fenscape if you wish to throw insults about expect the same. Best you cease now. We are all entitled to an opinion without your petty minded remarks.

Report this comment

Dickens

Friday, August 31, 2012
The NCC Conservative Group members who voted to keep Derrick Murphy in his job should hang their heads in shame.

Report this comment

Scooby

Friday, August 31, 2012
Once again Murphy walks away victorious. No doubt the bully boy tactics worked again. This man is a waste of space with his outragious expense account. Wait until next May Murphy, you will have to find £39,000 from somewhere else. The people of Norfolk have no confidence in you

Report this comment

Commander500

Friday, August 31, 2012
I expect if Derrick Murphy and County Hall had come over more professional they may have had a chance of getting the public to trust them over the incinerator. The problem was they had tons of spin and plenty of arrogance. They came over totally inexperienced. The reason for the breakdown of communication with some West Norfolk County Councillors was they were out of their depths with the incinerator. They did not want to lose financial benefits that go with their job if they scrutinised the incinerator.

Report this comment

Alan Allan

Friday, August 31, 2012
What a bunch of cowards, I would have thought no one could seriously have any confidence in Derrick Murphy especially the general public of Norfolk. As soon as he and many of his cowardly colleagues are history the better.

Report this comment

John L Norton

Friday, August 31, 2012
They are still frightened of him. Unbelievable. Dobson should stand as an Independent otherwise he will have an Independent standing against him and he will lose as will all the other West Norfolk Conservatives and many others throughout the County. How can Dobson not have a backbone to stand up straight and walk out leaving the knuckle trailing monobrows to revert back to sea dwellers.

Report this comment

alecto

Friday, August 31, 2012
“The group seemed to be fairly happy.” - it wasn't unanimous then Derrick ! No doubt those that did back their leader are now busily picking up the toys he threw out the pram when he learnt of the Call In. Temper, temper Derrick.

Report this comment

jpm@edp24

Friday, August 31, 2012
“The group seemed to be fairly happy.” - it wasn't unanimous then Derrick ! No doubt those that did back their leader are now busily picking up the toys he threw out the pram when he learnt of the Call In. Temper, temper Derrick.

Report this comment

jpm@edp24

Friday, August 31, 2012
Come May Derrick Murphy and some West Norfolk County Councillors will be history. Cllr Dobson and Cllr Long have worked very hard for the public and party for many more years. Murphy has been a total liability for the Tories. This was the time to wipe the slate clean but the Tories have to put up with the embarrassment of one man that will spell the disaster for their party.

Report this comment

Choice

Friday, August 31, 2012
Come May Derrick Murphy and some West Norfolk County Councillors will be history. Cllr Dobson and Cllr Long have worked very hard for the public and party for many more years. Murphy has been a total liability for the Tories. This was the time to wipe the slate clean but the Tories have to put up with the embarrassment of one man that will spell the disaster for their party.

Report this comment

Choice

Friday, August 31, 2012
To be honest, although probably not what Joe Public wants, it was the only outcome that was ever going to happen today. 9 months time, that could be a different story.

Report this comment

captaincozmik

Friday, August 31, 2012
I look forward to the electorate expressing a more formal lack of confidence in Mr Murphy and his acolytes next May.....

Report this comment

Fenscape

Friday, August 31, 2012
'The Tory leader added: “I don’t want to sound odd but I don’t think the vote of confidence would go any way apart from the way it did.' I must admit that this does sound quite an odd statement to me! Perhaps it's just expressed in rather an odd way.

Report this comment

Trevor Ashwin

Friday, August 31, 2012