Picture by Mike Page shows :- proposed King's Lynn Incinerator site

Norfolk MPs angry over ‘Implied threat’ to finance in proposed King’s Lynn incinerator saga

CHRIS FISHER, Political editor Friday, December 16, 2011
8:12 AM

The full bitter extent of the division in Norfolk’s Conservative leadership caused by the proposed incinerator at King’s Lynn has been laid bare.

All seven Tory MPs for the county have signed a formal letter of complaint to the Conservative leader of the county council, Derrick Murphy, after taking strong exception to a warning that MPs objecting to the planned incinerator at Saddlebow could see the loss of council-funded spending projects in their constituencies.

Having received that message, Henry Bellingham and Elizabeth Truss, the MPs for North West and South West Norfolk, referred it to the authorities of the House of Commons on the grounds that there was an “implied threat” to them in their work and that it possibly constituted a breach of parliamentary privilege.

A contempt of parliament can be caused by “threatening to end investment by a public corporation in a member’s constituency if the Member persisted in making speeches along the lines of those in a preceding debate”.

The Office of the Clerk of the House told the EDP that its advice to MPs is confidential. But it is understood that its conclusion was that the letter to Mr Bellingham and Mr Truss only narrowly failed to offend against the rules.

Sent by the council’s deputy leader Ian Mackie on November 22, it said that the decision by environment secretary Caroline Spelman not to provide PFI credits from the controversial incinerator would “remove a £200m saving for all Norfolk taxpayers”.

It also stated that “any influence you (Mr Bellingham and Ms Truss) may have in persuading the secretary of state to withhold the PFI credits, which had previously been allocated, will have significant financial consequences for Norfolk as a whole”.

It added that the council had to make contingency plans “during this period of financial uncertainty”. And in a section that particularly troubled not only Ms Truss and Mr Bellingham but all the Norfolk Conservative MPs, Mr Mackie stated: “Whilst the county council is committed to its £1.5m grant to the College of West Anglia, we have to pause our financial support for the NORA (Nar Ouse Regeneration Area) housing development project and the Thetford Riverside Regeneration Project, some £1m investment. Until we gain certainty of our PFI credits we will not be able to release that funding.”

The NORA scheme is for the building of over 150 houses in Lynn in Mr Bellingham’s seat, and the Thetford proposal is in Ms Truss’s.

In their letter to Mr Murphy - which read like a declaration of civil war between Norfolk’s Tory representation at Westminster and the party’s leadership at County Hall - the MPs said “we do not view it as acceptable under any circumstances that there should be a targeted removal of funding when a local MP disagrees with the views of the county council”. And it continued: “We are sure that our constituents would be shocked at the implications behind that threat.”

Mr Mackie’s letter was sent about two weeks after Ms Spelman had caused shock and horror at County Hall by her decision on the incinerator PFI credits. An already angry schism over the issue in Tory circles in Norfolk was taken to greater levels of toxicity.

None of the MPs would comment publicly last night on the “private” but leaked letters.

Mr Murphy told the EDP: “I have yet to receive any such letter so it is difficult for me to comment in detail on something I haven’t seen.

“It is a matter of public record we have put the funding for some projects on hold until we know whether or not we are to receive a government grant worth £169million. We will have to re-prioritise some of the projects we support if we don’t receive it - especially in the current economic climate.

“I know the deputy leader’s letter explaining the financial facts was never intended to be threatening in any way. We greatly value our strong relationship with Norfolk’s MPs and I am very sorry if it gave that impression because we have been working so well with them on a wide range of issues crucial to Norfolk’s future.

“Clearly when I actually receive the letter, I will respond directly to further reassure them on this point.”

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50 comments

NCC breaks up for Christmas. Switch off from annoying troublesome pro- recycling campaigners. Phone friends in America and wish them a prosperous new year. The pro-recycling campaigners talk to friends and family over the Christmas period. Looking back on 2011 they will remember the stress and anxiety caused by Tory Wheelabrator. New Year resolution for the pro-recycling campaigners. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY. Roll on the County elections 2013.

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Gordon Brookes

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
NCC breaks up for Christmas. Switch off from annoying troublesome pro- recycling campaigners. Phone friends in America and wish them a prosperous new year. The pro-recycling campaigners talk to friends and family over the Christmas period. Looking back on 2011 they will remember the stress and anxiety caused by Tory Wheelabrator. New Year resolution for the pro-recycling campaigners. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY. Roll on the County elections 2013.

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Gordon Brookes

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Phil Hardy defected from the Greens and has joined the Tory Wheelabrator Party.

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Ben Baxter

Monday, December 19, 2011
The anti-recycling campaign has just had a new recruit, Phil Hardy.

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Ben Baxter

Monday, December 19, 2011
It really is time that this wretched saga was brought to a halt, Members have sullied their reputations and that of NCC as well as being brought into disrepute. NCC should now commission an independent full project review and option appraisal by a competent consultancy with a brief to consider more efficient technology than incineration. It is common practice in Local Government to include Residents who may be affected by such decisions to in all aspects of the project and decision making process not just have something foisted upon them with a sham of consultation At the end of the day Norfolk in common with the rest of the Country faces the problem of what to do with waste but lets not change one problem for another by creating toxic clouds and adding to CO discharges, waste should be treated like any other problem and the hazards engineered out Clearly we need to act now to resolve our difficulties but lets also make democracy part of the solution

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Harry

Sunday, December 18, 2011
Felltham and Heston election results show the Tory party will take a hammering at the next County elections not long away. If the incinerator debate is still going on or planning permission is given, this marks the end of the Tory party in West Norfolk. County Hall will be scrutinized by new, none Tory Councilors. No more mob rule. I am guilty like many others who showed allegiance to the Tory Party all my voting life. At the recent Borough elections, first time ever I voted Lib-Dems at Watlington where most of the Anti-Recycling County Councilors live. For years this area has been a Tory stronghold but they did not put forward a candidate this time because the incinerator debate was in full swing. The Anti-Recycling County Councilors are not working in the interest of their electorate and the environment. They opted to champion the rights of an American incinerator company with a dodgy record.

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Knee deep In Toxic ash

Sunday, December 18, 2011
The incinerator defiantly has no broad consensus, if the public are against it. 97% from all Norfolk is against it with the results of the planning application. West Norfolk Borough Council and all Norfolk’s MPs. Caroline Spelman. Do NCC not read the EDP24. They are out of touch with the public.

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Knee deep In Toxic ash

Saturday, December 17, 2011
The Public have voted! We do not want it! What more do you need,we are suppose to be democratic society but in truth we are no better than Iran..........Perhaps we can convince those miserable sods over the Channel to have it as a gift!!!!

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dave123

Saturday, December 17, 2011
Honest John..It is a shame this news article was not available while the High Court battle was in progress. I still do not understand why Cory Wheellabrator wanted compensation from Michael de Whalley when a contract had not been signed. Cory Wheelabrator are running County Hall. They have an unhealthy relationship with some high ranking Council officials. Where is NCCs boss David White? Looking back over NCC had nearly convinced the residents of West Norfolk breathing in pollution is good for us as they had the Cllr Anne Steward who reminded me of the lady in large department stores who demonstrated cigarettes. She may have looked convincing but Derrick Murphy had stepped in with his brash manner and tried to convince the electorate Quote Lynn News 17 Jan 2011. “Why would they (Cameron and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman) give us 169 million quid if it was dodgy? They must have liked what we want to do.”

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THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

Saturday, December 17, 2011
When little boys get in the big boy's ring life changes. No one will walk away unless the big boys say they can, any who try to leave early will be ruined. Cory have held the NCC's cards since day one, spoils don't get shared until contracts are signed, money is paid and incinerators are built. How short-sighted some people have been, they should have gone to Specsavers.

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Honest John

Friday, December 16, 2011
When little boys get in the big boy's ring life changes. No one will walk away unless the big boys say they can, any who try to leave early will be ruined. Cory have held the NCC's cards since day one, spoils don't get shared until contracts are signed, money is paid and incinerators are built. How short-sighted some people have been, they should have gone to Specsavers.

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Honest John

Friday, December 16, 2011
When little boys get in the big boy's ring life changes. No one will walk away unless the big boys say they can, any who try to leave early will be ruined. Cory have held the NCC's cards since day one, spoils don't get shared until contracts are signed, money is paid and incinerators are built. How short-sighted some people have been, they should have gone to Specsavers.

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Honest John

Friday, December 16, 2011
When little boys get in the big boy's ring life changes. No one will walk away unless the big boys say they can, any who try to leave early will be ruined. Cory have held the NCC's cards since day one, spoils don't get shared until contracts are signed, money is paid and incinerators are built. How short-sighted some people have been, they should have gone to Specsavers.

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Honest John

Friday, December 16, 2011
Wattonlad.. No smoke without fire. How on earth did NCC staff on a jolly at Cory Wheelabrators head office not report back to County legal department pending legal action for pollution and long history of fraud? The contract has not been signed and that was a closely guarded secret by County Hall. Cory Wheelabrator should now be disqualified from handling Norfolk’s waste knowing about the murky past.

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Greg Radzic

Friday, December 16, 2011
Some power hungry arrogant County Councillors have taken the Tory Party in to disrepute. They have insulted Tory Borough Councillors, Tory County Councillors, and Norfolk MPs, including Ms Caroline Spelman and not forgetting the folks that pay for their mistakes the rate payer. How long can they keep this fiasco going on for? I expect it is Cory Wheelabrator have some kind of hold on them, maybe all down to the visit at their head office by NCC! It is time now NCC tells Cory Wheelabrator where the door is as they have come up with dodgy phone polls and have history of pollution and fraud.

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wattonlad

Friday, December 16, 2011
My christmas wish get rid of these awful people once and for all.

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Steve33

Friday, December 16, 2011
Local Dad, are you by any chance the father of that dictator Derrick Murphy ?

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John L Norton

Friday, December 16, 2011
Nicely put John Martin, shows Bigfish he's not in such a little pond after all. What are Mike Jackson, Joel Hull and Mark Allen doing with themselves these days? They started this ball rolling several years before Murphy got involved, I can't believe he's happy to take all the fallout. Ann Steward could get out this unscathed too, she was substituted in favour of the more rude and ignorant Bill Borrett. What is his incentive? I think it's nice that Henry and Liz have actually done something for a change, and congratulations to all those with a spine - a physical attribute that has been sorely lacking for far too long. Let's be 'aving your resignations.

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Honest John

Friday, December 16, 2011
Sorry Local Dad but County Councillors might have big decisions to make and be responsible for huge budgets but they also have a duty to the people who gave them their very lucrative positions. Being brave would be acknowledging that they have made mistakes and getting back to the "drawing board" without wasting more of the hard earned money that we pay them in taxes.

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Christine

Friday, December 16, 2011
This is priceless. So many of us have been complaining for years about the absolute awfulness of the County Councillors, the Cabinet being worse than the footsoldiers. Now it's taken the MPs to put their collective foot down. Bet you all that we will see a different tune being played on the EDP piano now. Oh boy did they get this wrong. As for the incinerator, that will fail on other grounds and very strong grounds they are too. I am full of admiration for those who are preparing the case and wish I could say more.

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alecto

Friday, December 16, 2011
This is priceless. So many of us have been complaining for years about the absolute awfulness of the County Councillors, the Cabinet being worse than the footsoldiers. Now it's taken the MPs to put their collective foot down. Bet you all that we will see a different tune being played on the EDP piano now. Oh boy did they get this wrong. As for the incinerator, that will fail on other grounds and very strong grounds they are too. I am full of admiration for those who are preparing the case and wish I could say more.

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alecto

Friday, December 16, 2011
No Local Dad, that’s not right. It’s a deeply unpopular decision because it’s the WRONG decision for many many reasons. I don’t have to spell out the sort of egos we’re dealing with at NCC because this particular story lays it all bare once more. I’d actually respect them more if they had the courage to do what KLWNBC have done, admit that they made a mistake and then start looking at Plan B instead, but it appears that they would rather sell their souls than apologise and start afresh.

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Fenscape

Friday, December 16, 2011
Whether you agree with their actions or not, at least recognise that the County Council cabinet have big decisions to make and are responsible for huge budgets. They have been brave enough to make a deeply unpopular decision. The MPs are in charge of nothing and are only concerned with getting re-elected and climbing the greasy pole at Westminster. They can say anything because the two of them are responsible for nothing.

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Local Dad

Friday, December 16, 2011
As already expressed by others, this self destructive cabinet is not only wrecking the prospects of the Tory's, spread rancour and mistrust with their ignorant refusal to think again, they also waste valuable time and energy on something they are not able to handle anymore. Both, Cllr. Murphy and Mackie should take their hat and leave immediately, they have ruined what little credibility was left in NCC. Cllr. mackie has not much changed since he left University, he was a rat then and he has not changed much.

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ingo wagenknecht

Friday, December 16, 2011
this saga is as good as Downton Abbey. my brain hurts.

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bookworm

Friday, December 16, 2011
Perhaps the way to get the point over to the NCC Cabinet is for more members of the public to make individual conduct complaints against its members. (I am aware of at least one complaint that has already gone in against Cllr Mackie alleging that by his conduct, as reported in the EDP, he has brought his office and NCC into disrepute.) In the "Council and Democracy" section on the NCC website there are two tabs to use. One is "Have your say" where you will find advice on how to complain about a member. The other is "Council constitution". The Members' Code of Conduct is contained in one of the appendices to the Constitution. The complaint can be made by a simple e-mail to the Monitoring Officer - victoria.mcneill@norfolk.gov.uk. You do not need to complete a form. This provides another way of individual voices being heard.

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Nemesis

Friday, December 16, 2011
The problem with this regime at County Hall is they have similar arrogance to dictatorships. They tried to isolate West Norfolk. This did not happen as the planning consultation identified 88% of parish councils reject the mass burn incinerator. 97% of all Norfolk rejected incineration. NCC is a Law unto itself because they are inexperienced in running the county Council. The good years they fritted away our hard earned cash and now we are paying the hard price. Fancy putting all your eggs in one basket just like the £38 million they lost to the Icelandic Banks. The same goes for the mass burn incinerator. No forward planning. Looking at other towns throughout the universe, incineration is unpopular. So what made think there would be little or no opposition in west Norfolk. MP Eric Pickles has, changed his views on incineration Quote letsrecycle Shanks Group Wheelabrator has announced the promotion of Ian Goodfellow to the new post of managing director of its UK operations. Mr Goodfellow originally joined the company in June last year from SITA as director of collections, recycling and transfer for the waste services division of Shanks. Magazine. October 2011, But perhaps less well-reported – but just as significant – was the praise handed out by Mr. Pickles to mechanical biological treatment (MBT), and the role he envisages that technology playing in allowing councils to collect residual waste weekly but to still achieve high recycling rates. By separating valuable dry recyclables and organic material from residual, or ‘black bag’, waste, MBT makes it easier and more cost-effective for councils and businesses alike to attain high recycling rates and to divert material from landfill, therefore avoiding the ever-increasing cost of waste disposal. Derrick Murphy was swaggering round County hall early this year, telling staff he has Eric Pickles round his little finger!

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CleanAirPlease

Friday, December 16, 2011
Leadership is about doing the right thing in the right way. There is such strong evidence that genuine leadership is absent at County Hall it is time for the Cabinet to resign. They have delivered distrust, division and disrepute upon Norfolk and the offices they hold by this behaviour.

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The Bin Man

Friday, December 16, 2011
Bigfish, let us get this question of “loss” sorted out. The £200m figure bandied about by NCC as the saving that Norfolk would make over twenty-five years was based on the entirely unreal supposition that, in the absence of the incinerator, we would continue during the whole of that time to send the same amount of municipal residual waste to landfill. But that would never happen. Recycling and composting rates are rising each year, and a non-incineration alternative to landfill would be found. (This is the “Plan B” that NCC has so far been too arrogant to consider.) We then have the £169m figure. (It forms part of the £200m figure.) If the waste infrastructure credits are ever confirmed by Defra, then over a period of twenty-five years central government will pay that out to NCC at the rate of about £6.75m a year. It is essentially a contribution towards the cost of going the incinerator route. But that will also means that NCC has to spend about £500m of its own – or our own – money during that time on the provision of the incinerator. There can be no “loss” if instead NCC spends that £500m over twenty-five years on a non-incineration alternative to landfill that is less harmful and more acceptable generally while working hard on reduction, re-use, recycling and composting in addition. (I have the idea that this is what those sensible people at King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council are investigating now.) So, let us forget this nonsense about Norfolk’s MPs losing us money. They aren’t entirely blameless, because they should have come together long ago to challenge the way in which the ruling administration in County Hall is abusing its position, but you cannot reasonably accuse them of losing us £200m

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John Martin

Friday, December 16, 2011
Well said MaryJane, Joy and others. There are cheaper alternatives to burning Norfolk's waste, but NCC won't listen. Now is the time to do the honourable thing and resign Derrick !

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depressed Norfolk

Friday, December 16, 2011
It seems to me that the MPs are well aware that Cllr Murphy has led the Conservative Council Group into a financial dead end, due to dogged insistance on an environmentally flawed plan to incinerate waste. That there will be more cuts because of this cannot be doubted. What the MPs have every right to object to is cuts which are, as they say, TARGETTED at the people who rebelled against the incinerator. The next County elections are still 16 months away, but I suspect the Conservatives may lose some seats, particularly in West Norfolk.

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EN Heath

Friday, December 16, 2011
Whatever opinion people hold about the incinerator surely most must agree that the leadership of NCC is out of control. Their conduct in respect of the incinerator should surelyalso put their steamrollering of the NDR under serious scrutiny and make most wonder why their general running of the county has not been subject to review by those tasked with keeping local government actions beyond reproach.

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Daisy Roots

Friday, December 16, 2011
Hmmm Bigfish - that'll be the MP's who were also elected but are choosing to obey the overwhelming will of the people at large rather than do what NCC have done, which is obey the will of big business and unelected council officials. If there is one thing that the likes of Mackie and Murphy cannot do, it is quote democratic process when it suits them and then ignore it the rest of the time.....

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Fenscape

Friday, December 16, 2011
Let me get this straight. The elected Conservative county council plan for a incinerator and receive promises of central government funding for this. Then as a blocking tactic Bellingham and Truss object to the funding. When informed that the loss of funding would mean that there would be reduced funding in their constituencies from the county council they profess surprise and calim it is they that are being threatened. They then pass this to the authorities who find that there is no case to answer. So by their actions they have cost Norfolk £200 million. This doesn't look very clever on the MPs behalf or have I missed anything?

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Bigfish

Friday, December 16, 2011
Oh dear Cllr Mackie - things not adding up on your magical spreadsheet? There's a surprise - just wait until the Norfolk taxpayer realises the extent of the cuts you've got planned for the coming financial year too! You. Are. Doomed.

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Fenscape

Friday, December 16, 2011
absolutely agree with Joy and John Martin, the only option is to resign for Murphy and co - when will they get the message that their bully boy tactics cannot be tolerated?

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Public Sector & Proud

Friday, December 16, 2011
absolutely agree with Joy and John Martin, the only option is to resign for Murphy and co - when will they get the message that their bully boy tactics cannot be tolerated?

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Public Sector & Proud

Friday, December 16, 2011
Small men, big egos...

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xxxx

Friday, December 16, 2011
I have written to Eric Pickles he is the Minister responsible for Communities and Local Government. He must step in or see the conservative party and Norfolk as a whole, ripped apart by the controlling handful at the top of Norfolk County Council.

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Joy, King's Lynn

Friday, December 16, 2011
The senior members of this council are out of countrol. They should go.

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andy

Friday, December 16, 2011
I am not impressed by all these people who pretend to offer leadership both nationally and locally. However, objectively:- -The MPs were told that they have no grounds for complaint -The Council should have sent a blanket list of projects that they felt were under threat if finance was lost. The MPs should have been able to work out for themselves (or with their advisors for the ones with less local knowledge) which ones may be in their constituencies.

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A M

Friday, December 16, 2011
This development must have been known by MP's for some time if the letter went off on 22nd November. Comments and proposed action by all our county MP's to bring County Hall immediately into line need to be known by us all. Confidence in County decision making and governance is at it's lowest in years.

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bedoomed

Friday, December 16, 2011
“any influence you (Mr Bellingham and Ms Truss) may have in persuading the secretary of state to withhold the PFI credits, which had previously been allocated, will have significant financial consequences for Norfolk as a whole” Not half as bad as the consequences for Norfolk of letting this nthing go ahead.

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solengrim

Friday, December 16, 2011
As I have said before, Murphy's intention after being rejected by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council for leadership was hellbent on the destruction of that Borough, the Leadership and the local MP. What is also interesting that if Mackie wrote that letter without Murphys supervision (unlikely) Murphy may well throw him out for us. That will send shudders down the backs of the rest of the cabinet. Remember there's £16.000 each a year at stake. We could see two things happen now. - a rebellion on the backbenches - unlikely (not enough people) - a reshuffle of the cabinet - possibly. However, with the latter there are a number of assistant cabinet members also on the pay role including Janet Murphy who would be ready to sell their souls and their principles. Those with principles have already left!!! Murphy has now returned to West Norfolk Conservative Association after walking out a couple of years ago after yet another flaming row with the committee and has been re-elected by an executive which has a majority of his supporters including the President and Chairman. The Chairman Mike Pitcher, unsuccessfully made an attempt at ousting the Leader of the Borugh Council and after failing tried to take over the deputy leadership and was outvoted. There is now another plot afoot I am sure, just have to watch this space. In the meantime Murphy will not be sleeping well and the contempt with which he has treated Norfolk and its people over many issues since his leadership will prove to be his downfall, the sooner the better!! 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing' Edmund Burke (1729-1797.

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maryjane

Friday, December 16, 2011
I said right at the start of this saga that NCC wont just take all these court actions and general verbal bashing they have been getting without reprise, they have openly said that they intend to push through this incinerator with the funding or without, and if it is without they will pull funding from any local council who has dared to speak out against them.

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Aeschylus

Friday, December 16, 2011
Why was my last post blocked? Is it because I said we should vote them out?

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andy

Friday, December 16, 2011
Does this not illustrate the unbounded arrogance of NCC who show all that they should not be given the authority to continue in their posts?

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IanofNorfolk

Friday, December 16, 2011
The Leading members of Norfolk County Council simply cannot keep behaving like this. They appear to think that they can do exactly as they wish regardless of any opposition. They forget we live in a democracy not under the rule of a Dictator.

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Joy, King's Lynn

Friday, December 16, 2011
It is difficult to believe that only one of the NCC ruling party was aware of the letter to Norfolk MPs. Those responsible should resign now as they are clearly far too full of themeselves and their own self importance. The incinerator is not their only example of this. All members of the ruling party need to state if they supported or support this approach to local MPs. Those that did need to be voted out at the next opportunity.

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andy

Friday, December 16, 2011
Murphy, Mackie and the rest of the NCC Cabinet should surely now resign.

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John Martin

Friday, December 16, 2011