Margate's "member for Panama" resigns
A Conservative councillor has resigned after it emerged he spends much of his time more than 5,000 miles away from his ward.
The Isle of Thanet Gazette’s sister paper the Thanet Times told last month how Stephen Broadhurst, a Thanet councillor for Dane Valley in Margate, had been asked by Tory party whip Ted Watt-Ruffell to consider his position because of the amount of time he spent looking after his business interests in Panama.
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Dane Valley councillor Stephen Broadhurst has resigned
On Tuesday, deputy council leader of the council Roger Latchford confirmed that the party’s leadership had received Cllr Broadhurst’s letter of resignation.
Cllr Latchford said: “He is resigning now that it is confirmed that he will have more permanent business situation in Panama.
“It was a personal decision and I fully support it. He was elected by his constituents and he knew what his responsibilities were.”
The news comes in the same week that a Thanet council spokesman confirmed an administrative error by a secretary had meant Cllr Broadhurst had been marked as in attendance at a full council meeting this year, when in fact he was absent.
A by-election will be called to find a replacement for his Dane Valley seat, but a date has not yet been set.
We were unable to contact Cllr Broadhurst despite repeated attempts.
For the full story and reaction see tomorrow's Isle of Thanet Gazette.
4 Comments
by jamain thompson, margate
Saturday, October 31 2009, 10:21AM
“i wouldnt mind having a word with this man, as a black british citizen i am fond of thanet and its history, what i find is that people like him need to face the public, the public dont like his sort, he takes money then runs, come back to the uk and come see me i will show you the way cllr, i will tell you what you are ! you should be ashamed of yourself, but your not as you havent said sorry, what a coward !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! be a man and come back and pay the money back into a charity or a good cause, lets turn the money you obtained into something positive, come on cllr face the music and stop hiding, also the nespapers need to fly to panama and pay someone to locate him as i want to see where he lives and what his lifes like being on the run..........................im waiting coward”
by Neal HOGG, westwood
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 8:10AM
“now the rest of the pratts on the council should follow suit.....”
by Basil, Ramsgate
Friday, August 28 2009, 6:33PM
“Had anyone actually noticed he wasn't around?
Corrupt Thanet again?”
by john, wesrgate
Friday, August 28 2009, 12:20PM
“i am worried about this as mr s broadhurst .i work for him and i was told he was just living in panama.and his sercuity business.he got ted watt -ruffell he running the company in thanet .where does that leave us in thanet who work for these people as we dont know”