Leadership fight on for Blaenau Gwent

The under-fire independent councillor from Blaina quit the top job on Friday afternoon, amid allegations of “skulduggery” within his own party, “bullying and harassment” by the Argus and the damning Estyn inspection of the council’s education service which he said was “politically motivated”

by the Labour-controlled Welsh Assembly Government.

Now his fellow independents John Mason, Don Wilcox and even former Labour leader John Hopkins, all of whom are in their 70s, are in the frame to take the hot seat.

Rumours have been rife for months that factions within the Independent group were plotting behind Cllr Hillman’s back.

WHO WILL IT BE?: From left John Mason, Don Wilcox, John Hopkins and Hedley McCarthy

Indeed the leader himself alluded to it in his emotional resignation speech at the Civic Centre where he claimed clandestine meetings and skulduggery in his own party had forced him to resign, saying he could not “carry them anymore.”

As of 5pm today today, there will be no replacement leader in place on the day the Wales Audit Office is expected to release its draft report into the running of the council.

Officially the baton has been handed to deputy leader John Mason, who will act as an interim leader until a successor is appointed this Friday.

In July the Argus reported that Cllr Mason was tipped to topple Cllr Hillman as leader after the Estyn report was published and the rift between them was worsened after Labour councillors announced they were offered the deputy leader position by the leader. The second hat in the ring belongs to Don Wilcox, a former Labour stalwart turned independent member who crossed the floor to vote with Labour against Cllr Hillman in the unsuccessful no confidence vote in August.

Respected and experienced, he is said to have supporters in both camps and could be the person to unite the council.

Last month amid rumours of unrest among the Independents, former Labour council leader turned Independent John Hopkins was said to be a possibility.

At the time he told the Argus he would consider the post if he was approached.

However, it seems there still could be another twist in the tale of Cllr Hillman’s resignation, as the Argus understands his loyal supporters could break away from the independents and form their own party.

This would pave the way for a Labour comeback as any significant shift from the independents would hand Labour an overall majority.

At Friday’s meeting Cllr Mason vowed to work with the opposition and form a united front in the face of the WAO investigation.

But if the in-fighting within the Independent group goes on, Labour could be forced to take over with former council leader Hedley McCarthy, 58, at the top of its list of successors.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Serious issue is forgotten

YOU could forgive residents of Blaenau Gwent for being fed up to the back teeth of the political toing and froing at their council.

Not a week, sometimes not a day, goes by without some new twist in the long-running saga of the leadership of the local authority.

But what really irks us is that amidst all the political wranglings, accusations and counter allegation, one of the serious issues which started this whole ball rolling seems to have been forgotten.

Outgoing leader Des Hillman used his resignation speech on Friday to blame the bullying and harassment by the Argus, and skulduggery of others, for forcing him out of the job. We would point out that we have merely reported events as they have unfolded.

Among other issues, it was the damning criticism of the council’s education service which has caused much of the controversy.

It was back in July when Estyn inspectors said children in Blaenau Gwent were being let down over their education.

That was a very serious charge and, in our view, that is the issue which should have remained at the forefront of the council’s deliberations from that point forward.

The political rows should have been put aside while the real issue was tackled head on.