On Monday 8th October two extraordinary Council meetings were called by the local Tories to propose an injunction against traveller encampments in Nuneaton & Bedworth. This was in spite of the fact that the Labour-led Borough Council has been pursuing an injunction for some time, and so calling this meeting was a complete waste of taxpayer’s money.

Determined not to let the facts get in the way of an opportunity to score cheap political points, the local Conservatives put their motion forward at the full Council Meeting. Since this motion attacked the Council and made political points, the Labour group proposed a reasoned amendment. This amendment would have kept much in the Tory amendment but removed overtly political clauses attacking the Borough Council.

The Labour group proposed and passed this amendment, committing the Council to take further action against illegal traveller incursions. The Conservatives voted against the amendment, demonstrating to all present that they have no interest in anything but playing politics with local services.

Cllr Tricia Elliott commented: “Once again the local Conservatives have shown that they have absolutely no interest in serving the people of our Borough. If they had they would have voted for our Labour amendment to continue to take action against illegal traveller encampments.

Instead they chose to oppose our amendment and put their own political spin operation ahead of the genuine concerns of residents.

That in a word, is shameful. It is time for the Conservatives to apologise to local people and stop playing politics. Until they do this, they will not be fit to govern our Borough.”