JUST when you thought he’d bowed out, defiant ex-council leader Des Hillman launches his bid to challenge the current independent/Labour partnership in charge of Blaenau Gwent council.

Cllr Hillman is calling for ‘true independents’ to join him and stand at next May’s election.

The Argus has reported the bitter falling out between Cllr Hillman and the independents after his accusations of “skulduggery”

within the group led to his resignation last month.

There is also no love lost between Cllr Hillman and new leader John Mason, who Cllr Hillman says cannot be trusted and has continued to attack him at subsequent council meetings since he quit the top job.

But in a letter in today’s paper, Cllr Hillman is calling for candidates looking to stand in Llanhilleth, Badminton, Beaufort, Cwm, Ebbw Vale North, Ebbw Vale South, Rassau, Nantyglo, Georgetown, Tredegar Central and West and Sirhowy wards to contact him.

“I am only looking for ‘proper independents’, anyone that has crossed the floor or are not ‘true independents’ and any of the present crop of independents councillors at Blaenau Gwent need not apply,”

he said.

Cllr Hillman was furious when the independents forged a power-sharing deal with Labour, after he maintained he had tried to set up such an agreement but it was thrown out by the same councillors.

There were rumblings within the council that he was gathering support for a new party to rival the current administration for weeks, but as yet no one has been named as joining forces with the Blaina ward councillor.

However Cllr Hillman may have already lined up supporters in the Abertillery, Blaina, Bynmawr, Cwmtillery and Six Bells wards as they are not listed among the areas he is targeting.

The current councillors for these wards are non-affiliated councillor Nigel Daniels in Abertillery and independent councillors David Rocke, Lyn Elias, John Hopkins, Kevin Brown, Garth Collier, Steven Bard, Denzil Hancock, Delwyn Davies, Mark Edwards, John Taylor, Yvonne Lewis and Jim Watkins.

Does this mean that some of his former comrades are looking to support him?

Or is Cllr Hillman concentrating his efforts on tackling the seats of political heavyweight opponents on both sides of the divide?

His focus seems to be John Mason’s ward of Nantyglo; the Llanhilleth ward of Labour leader Hedley McCarthy and former independent turned Labourmayor Mike Bartlett; the Ebbw Vale North ward of independents Don Wilcox and John Rogers who voted with Labour in the vote of no confidence against him and the wards of Labour executive members Steve Thomas and Brian Scully.

Seeking new independent candidates

Cllr Hillman's letter to the Argus

IN THE interests of democracy I am seeking new independent candidates for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council elections to be held in May 2012.

Candidates who are interested in democracy and want to make a difference to their areas will be offered the appropriate training and information on the role of a county borough councillor.

I am particularly looking for candidates in the wards of Llanhilleth, Badminton, Beaufort, Cwm, Ebbw Vale North, Ebbw vale South, Rassau, Nantyglo, Georgetown Tredegar, Tredegar Central and West and the Sirhowy wards, but anyone from any ward will be considered.

Anyone interested can contact me through the council website where my details are being held.

If you have difficulty in doing this please ring me on 01495 292361 and leave a message and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can.

I am only looking for ‘proper independents’ anyone that has crossed the floor or are not ‘true independents’ and any of the present crop of independent councillors at Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council need not apply. I look forward to your responses.

Cllr Des Hillman,
Nantyglo