Date: 18th January 2010

Kerb Crawling Councillor Should Resign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Following last week’s revelations that Cllr Brice has been cautioned for kerb crawling in Medway, Labour councillors are calling on him to resign from the Council.
At the moment, Cllr Brice is no longer a member of the Conservative Party or local Conservative Group, but is still a councillor.  He will remain so until he resigns, or does not attend a meeting for more than six months.
Labour members feel that it is inconceivable that somebody who has been cautioned for this offence should remain an elected representative.
Cllr Paul Godwin, Leader of Medway Labour Group, said,
“When a person who holds public office breaks the law, they generally have the decency to resign.  When they have been caught kerb crawling, any right minded person would do the decent thing.  The local Tories were correct to throw Cllr Brice out, and I am amazed that he has not yet resigned.”
“His position is completely untenable.  If he doesn’t attend any meetings for six months he automatically ceases to be a member, but if he does appear he will find himself in front of the Standards committee.  He cannot be allowed to just ignore the situation”
Cllr Teresa Murray, of neighbouring Rochester East ward, said,
“I am sure everyone in Rochester, and in Medway as a whole, is disgusted by Nicholas Brice’s actions.  For him to be cautioned for kerb crawling, at the same time the Council, the Police and the NHS are working hard to try to combat prostitution, is disgraceful.”
“I am sure the people in Rochester South do not want to be represented by a kerb-crawler, and will want to be rid of him.  He may have been arrogant enough to think he could get away with this in Medway, but surely he can’t be so arrogant to think he can continue as a councillor?”

ENDS

For further comment please contact Cllr Paul Godwin on 07740 590047 or 01634 865944 or Cllr Teresa Murray on 07855 378043 or 01634 409486 .  Alternatively contact the Group office on 01634 332393.