Reform UK's Lancashire leader takes trip paid for by Israeli government
The first cabinet meeting cancelled at County Hall in quite some time raises eyebrows in opposition ranks
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Today we report on Reform UK’s leader at Lancashire County Council, Stephen Atkinson, and his place on a group trip to Israel earlier this month.
County Cllr Atkinson gave his own reasons for accepting the trip - citing wanting to learn lessons about how the conflict affects residents in Lancashire.
He said that he was able to mark Remembrance events in Israel given his absence.
But it is the cancellation of a cabinet meeting - where urgent business is decided - that has raised eyebrows among opposition councillors. This is a rare event and has not happened in some time. We’ve looked at the reasons given for that, too.
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Lancashire briefing
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Reform UK’s Lancashire leader takes trip paid for by Israeli government
By Luke Beardsworth
The Reform UK leader of Lancashire County Council did not spend Remembrance Sunday or Armstice Day paying respects in the county - because he was on a group trip paid for by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
County Cllr Stephen Atkinson, Reform UK’s leader at Lancashire County Council, was free to take the trip to Israel from 5-11 November because County Hall meetings during his visit were either postponed or cancelled.
The November cabinet meeting was cancelled and the December cabinet meeting brought forward to the end of November, according to Lancashire County Council’s own online meetings calendar. It is the first time in several years that a meeting of cabinet at Lancashire County Council has been cancelled.
The reasons given by County Hall for the changes to the meetings schedule are that the cabinet wanted to be in the best position possible to discuss local government reorganisation and that there was no other urgent business to address.
A meeting of the Employment Committee - chaired by County Cllr Atkinson - was also brought forward by a week to 4 November. An extraordinary meeting of the Employment Committee set for 12 November was cancelled as it was set aside for interviews and no longer needed.
Cllr Atkinson said that no meetings were moved or cancelled to facilitate his trip to Israel and that his deputy could have been present in his absence.
He said that he accepted the invitation as a means to understand more about the conflict in Gaza and how that impacts on Lancashire residents. The trip has been declared on his register of gifts and hospitality and was for a value of £4,861.27.
He told The Lancashire Lead: “Since being appointed Leader of Lancashire County Council I have had various meetings with the Jewish Council for Manchester and the Region and Jewish residents of Lancashire who have expressed how scared they are to wear the star of David and the Kippa in public as well as seeing the unprecedented attacks against Jewish People. One of the reasons they feel this is happening is because of the Israel Gaza Conflict.
“I was invited as part of Reform UK and I accepted the invite so that I could understand more about this conflict and how it impacts on Lancashire residents. I was hoping the trip would allow me to visit Gaza, unfortunately that was not possible at this time.
“However, I met Israeli Muslims as well as Jews and I now have a much greater understanding that will help the Councils work in Lancashire. We will be bringing forward a number of initiatives to improve community cohesion in January. I need to make clear the trip was paid for by the Israeli ministry of Foreign affairs.
“I paid my respects at the Jerusalem War Cemetery on Remembrance Sunday.”
Two other pieces of council business - a scrutiny meeting and a member briefing - were missed in November. Cllr Atkinson advised that he had an emergency dental appointment during the member briefing so he had this separately.
He did not comment when asked how a ruling party elected on the promise of significant change can have no urgent business to address.
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