Shared goal fails to stop council leader and MP's bitter row

Portsmouth’s council leader and a city MP have become locked in a bitter public row over the proposed ‘super council’ – despite sharing the same goal.

The city council’s leader has accused Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin of being a “liar” over the proposed name of a new “South East Hampshire” council. This is the working title for what will be the merged Portsmouth, Fareham, Havant and Gosport councils as part of the Labour government’s local government reorganisation (LGR).

During a full council meeting last week, Liberal Democrat council leader Steve Pitt reacted with fury, questioning why “faceless bureaucrats sat in Westminster” were deciding the area’s future and arguing that Portsmouth should be included in the name.

As previously reported, Fareham Borough Council opposes this, arguing it implies the city is taking over its neighbours.

Amanda Martin raised the issue in Parliament on July 16, telling MPs: “Both Portsmouth MPs and, I believe, councils representing over 75 per cent of residents, support including Portsmouth in the name.

“It would be laughable, if it was not so awful, that the new name being publicly criticised by the council is the one that was submitted by Portsmouth City Council itself.

“Is time for the Liberal Democrat council to stop playing political games, stop scaremongering, stop wasting time and – I know it might be hard for them – be honest with residents about this process?”

In response, Cllr Pitt took to social media, describing Ms Martin as a “liar” and saying he did not “say that lightly and I checked she wanted to stand by her statement before posting this”.

He wrote: “Portsmouth has resisted this since the very start. When the business case was submitted, my signature was not included. Instead, there was a paragraph which explained that Portsmouth reiterated its demand to be left alone and excluded from the process.

“If and only if, our request was yet again denied, we indicated that we would support Option 1a, rather than just be done to and risk a worse outcome.

“It is therefore completely untrue to suggest that I signed our city up to LGR. I did not and I never would.

“For the MP to suggest otherwise is totally disingenuous. Very poor behaviour on such a critical issue. She should join the fight to protect our identity and our local services instead of toadying up to the new PM.”

Responding, Ms Martin said: “Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here. The name of our new council is so important to Portsmouth residents, of which I am one. I have been meeting with Ministers and pushing for the new council to include Portsmouth in its name.

“Steve Pitt, on the other hand, has been shouting in the council chamber about a proposed name that Portsmouth City Council submitted to the government. I accept that Steve is opposed to Local Government Reorganisation, but he should not resort to misinformation because he didn’t get his way.

“Currently, two councils are blocking Portsmouth’s inclusion in the name. Steve should be working with me, and other regional MPs and councillors to secure their support for the name.

“Thanks to my representations, I have also received confirmation from the Minister that even if disagreements over the legal name continue, the council can use our preferred name in its branding and marketing. These are practical steps Steve should be taking in the interest of our city. Instead, he is calling me names on Facebook.

“The fact Steve Pitt has reduced this important matter to political point scoring and childish language is insulting to the people of Portsmouth. Today, the new Prime Minister pledged to do politics differently. He wants to make politics more collaborative, about problem solving, not playing political games.

“I hope the Leader of the council will reflect on this. It’s time to work with his local MPs, not against them. I love Portsmouth; every day I use my position as an MP to fight for this city. We can be an asset to you, but currently you hide information from us, exclude us from correspondence, and block our access to officers.

“We are both fighting for the same goal here, a council’s name that properly represents our incredible city. I encourage you to put aside the rhetoric and help me deliver the change our city needs.”

Fareham Borough Council’s leader Simon Martin has outlined his opposition to ‘Portsmouth’ being in the name of the new council saying it should be something completely new.

He said: “Incorporating the name of a single existing council suggests an expanded legacy or takeover, rather than a genuinely new organisation built on equal partnership.”