Leicester Mercury political correspondent
Posts tagged Ross Grant
These aren’t anti-Peter stories
Aug 9th
A councillor complaining that another politician gets all the best gigs wouldn’t usually be much of a story.
But my report on the concerns that the city mayor, Peter Soulsby, is skimming the cream from the top of the Lord Mayor’s engagements made page two of yesterday’s Mercury.
I’ve received some tweets and messages from a handful of people who thought this was unfair on Peter. I don’t believe it was, and I expect that there’ll be many more similar stories to come.
Let me explain; these are not anti-Peter or anti-mayor stories, these are stories which are exploring how the new political system in the city is interacting with centuries of history.
We’re the biggest UK city outside London with an elected mayor. This is new to all of us. The abolition of the chief executive means we’ll be exploring even more new territory soon.
There’ll be teething problems and complaints and upset as the council changes at a rapid pace, and the stories reflecting that concern will continue.
I’m moving on…
May 20th
As part of Sir Peter Soulsby’s raft of changes as city mayor it appears that I’ll be moving.
Draft plans for seating arrangements for the new municipal year will see me moved from my perch at the back, behind talkative Ross Willmott and co.
Instead, I’ve been asked to sit behind Conservative Ross Grant on the old opposition benches.
I can, of course, decline and take my old seat depending on where the interesting Labour characters are placed. But that’s a decision I’ll make another day.
One thing is for sure – when I joked on election day that I was now the official opposition, I didn’t expect to be joining the opposition benches.
The Big Debate
Apr 19th
Last night’s mayoral debate wasn’t a classic, but it was toughest grilling of candidates hoping to run our city so far.
De Montfort University’s vice chancellor Dominic Shellard did a fine job. All candidates got a fair say, and they also got the opportunity to challenge their political rivals on various issues.
Ross Grant clashed with Peter Soulsby over his previous council reign, and Sir Peter then locked horns with Rick Moore over where he lived.
Things got a touch shaky towards the end. Dominic perhaps tried to cram in too many questions, which meant that some were put to just one or two candidates.
But overall we build up the most coherent picture yet of the candidates themselves, if not their exact blueprint for the city if elected.
Sir Peter’s passion and conviction bubbled over to anger at one point, Gary Hunt turned out to be more right wing than anyone realised, Rick Moore shook off the Nixon-esque facial awkwardness of the Beeb debate, and Ross Grant opted to play the man – rather than the ball – a few times with Soulsby. Make of it all what you will.
As for the more fringe candidates the audience appeared to warm to David Bowley until he alleged that the Labour party was racist, Mohinder Farma and Geoff Forse struggled to make an impact, while Lee Sowden was a touch more impressive than he’d previously been.
Mu-Hamid Pathan is by no means the finished article as a political voice but he’s already impressive. Sir Peter said he’d urge people to back Pathan as their second preference. Personally, I can’t see Mu-Hamid remaining as an independent for long. He’ll be snapped-up by one of the local parties, my guess is Labour, in time to stand for a city council by-election some time soon.
Highlight of the night for me? An audience member plugging my blog was helpful (hits spiked last night), and the Twitter chatter was great to follow and join in with. We became the top trending topic in Leicester during the debate. Thanks to everyone who helped make The Big Debate a success.
I’m off for a week now. I’m heading back to the north east. See you next Tuesday.
“Ross Grant is a monster unleashed”
Jan 22nd
Ross Grant, the leader of the Conservative group on Leicester City Council, has become a “monster unleashed”.
That’s the phrase used in an email sent by Tory councillor Nigel Porter to colleague Andy Bayford, branch chairman Roman Scuplak and others dated January 15.
He says Grant is “bullying” him and his actions have caused him and his family stress.
Let me fill you in on the situation. There’s an investigation underway by the council over a potential breach of the data protection act by Nigel.
A document, apparently given only to him, was given to a third party. The council launched an investigation, and Ross Grant was made aware of the situation.
Ross contacted Nigel early last Saturday and asked for a sit-down meeting with him urgently. I understand that the deadline was 48 hours or so. This wasn’t met and Nigel was later suspended from the council’s main opposition group. Other issues are swirling around, but I’ve covered the main thread.
I’ve published Nigel’s email below. Ross Grant is in the difficult position of not being able to comment until party process is complete, so do bear in mind that we’ve only got one side of the story here.
In Aylestone at the last local election we increased our vote by 17%; in part this was because we always respond promptly to any enquiries and never miss surgeries. Even my mother (who has been a member for more years than she would care to remember) was pleased to hear that Councillors will have to pay 3% to the party. She said, she can now stop wasting her money on the general election. She was very amused when she heard that councillor Grant seriously believed he was going to win.
Councillor Grant called me at 9.30 this morning about council matters, demanding that I meet with him. He claims he wants an urgent meeting with me in the next 48 hours yet he refuses to tell me what it is about; despite me asking him a number of times.
A person should be told what a meeting is about in advance for several reasons: out of common courtesy, for practical reasons (one may need to prepare and bring materials or resources to the meeting to share or study them in advance), one may wish to bring another person along for support (an advocate, representative, amanuensis or witness) how would one know who to bring?
If someone is going along ’in the dark’ they will naturally be anxious, therefore will not be thinking clearly and not be able to contribute properly.
Councillor Grant is bullying me. When I explained to councillor Grant why I thought I should be told what the meeting was about councillor Grant said: ’I don’t care, I’m the leader in the Council and in the group and this is how I’m going to do it, this is what’s happening. You either do it or you don’t. Councillor Grant is abusing his position to make me do something I felt was wrong.
Councillor Grant has now sent me an email in which he says I have refused to meet him this weekend. At no point during the call this morning did councillor Grant tell me that I had to meet with him this weekend or at 9.00am on Monday morning the next course of action is likely to be proceeding with my suspension.
The deadline of 9am on Monday has appeared from nowhere as has the threat that councillor Grant has power to suspend me if I do not rush unprepared and headlong in the ambush councillor Grant has no doubt prepared for me.
He says in his email the matter is urgent and serious but refuses to give me the slightest detail. What if the matter could easily be cleared up if I brought something along with me to the meeting?
I have not refused to meet him; all I have asked is that he lets me know what it is about for the reasons stated above.
Like most people with a young family such short notice is not always possible. I never said I refuse to meet him all I want is transparency; I am willing to meet him and I would be available to meet any time during the day on Thursday or Friday.
What ever councillor Grant thinks of me personally he should credit me with a little sense. I am no more a lamb than he is a lion.
Can you imagine the stress councillor Grant has caused me and my family? And councillor Grant has done this before.
You might be surprised that I am sharing this with you all, but I sat and thought and prayed for guidance - how should I proceed? I looked deep into my heart and realised that I could no longer keep quiet. I felt by keeping quiet this is what councillor Grant wants and in effect I would be sheltering him. My partner says Councillor Grant – has become a monster unleashed. And I should do whatever is in my power to rein him in, however unpalatable that may be.
In the mean time I hope to meet councillor Grant to discuss the matter.
Hell hath no fury like a rugby fan scorned
Nov 16th
An emergency full council meeting is all set for this Friday.
It’s where the Labour Party will attempt to get the ball rolling towards a planned elected mayor system for the city.
Tory opposition leader Ross Grant has repeatedly criticised the haste – including in a strongly-worded open-letter to Veejay Patel last week.
So what better way to provoke his wrath than by scheduling one of the most important council meetings of the year for the same days as his beloved Tigers taking on Harlequins.
Ross Grant’s iPad apps
Sep 13th
I’m always looking to find new ways to use the Freedom of Information Act.
While Ross Grant says he’d have been happy to send a list of his council iPad apps through to the Mercury, it’s still interesting that they have been released under FOI. Good one to use for future reference when considering requesting info on a public figure’s computer usage.
The list is provided via the excellent What Do They Know:
Contacts, Safari, Penultimate, iBooks, iDraft, Videos, Notes, iPod, Maps, Photos, GoodReader, iTunes, App Store, YouTube, Settings, Facebook, Numbers, Twitterific, Pages, Foursquare, Keynote, Adobe Ideas, iDisk, Draw, Google, PhotoPad, Dropbox, ReelDirector, Evernote, PhotoShare, Echofon, Big Calendar, PrintCentral, eBay, Calendar, DocStats, GW Calendar, BBC News, GW Mail, ABC News, Mail, Dictionary, Dragon Dictation, Bloomberg, SkyGrid, Met Office, WIRED, Marvel, Cool Hunting, IKEA UK, Super 7 HD, Boxcar, iBrainstorm, Scoot, Tweetradar, Rightmove, OS GB 250k, Skype, F1 Timing App, SimplyTweet, TV Guide, Huddle, FlipBoard, Wikipanion
Sketch: Willmott in cruise control
Jun 17th
Casual Wednesday at Leicester City Council.
Finance select committee. Ross Willmott bounds in. No tie, light pink shirt, casual trousers. Jovial lines peppered with his own giggles. It was a council scrutiny meeting, but he could have been embarking on a package cruise.
He took his seat in front of me and was soon joined by Andy Connelly, positively pink thanks to the beaming summer sunshine, and Patrick Kitterick.
The line-up looked like the back seat of a school bus – packed with the class rabble-rousers.
They were in good spirits for a trio so recently sheared of their cabinet responsibilities. Why? Because they now sit on one of the most powerful committees.
They look after the money. How on earth did the Labour whips let this one slip through the net?
Did any members want a briefing about how council finances work – an officer asked. You’d hope not, or they’re on the wrong committee.
But it was an opportunity for a Willmott boast: “The chief finance officer tells me everything he tells the cabinet anyway.” [See comments]
Hooray! They’re still in the loop. Or are they?
“You’ve got to read the Mercury to find out what’s happening at the council these days,” grumbled Kitterick. Perhaps not.
Five minutes in and the first trap had been set. Kitterick requested that Vi Dempster, cabinet member for children and schools, turn up next time around to explain some missed targets. “I second that,” said Willmott.
“It’s an ambush,” Ross Grant Tweeted.
Later on the presence of leader Veejay Patel was requested. Directors and documents were also necessary for the next meeting, they said. Chief executive Sheila Lock ended up sitting at the table to explain items. Officers were grilled. Just one item went through on the nod. No quarter was given here.
When the poor council scribe taking notes was asked to read back the committee’s shopping list of demands she mentioned that the two cabinet members would address the committee.
“I don’t want to be addressed,” said Willmott, “I want to question them.”
Will they be added to the agenda for the next meeting on July 7? No-one could say.
Chair Coley said, half-joking, that if they couldn’t then they’d have to arrange an emergency session.
“Perfect,” said Willmott, “I’ve got a lot of time on my hands these days.”
Mistaken identity
Mar 19th
Never let it be said that city Tory leader Ross Grant lacks the common touch.
On arrival at the Mercury building this week, clad in t-shirt and jeans rather than his usual sharp suit, he headed to reception to announce his arrival.
But the leader of the opposition’s status was lost on one of our receptionists, who asked him: “Are you here to fix the toilets downstairs?”
Not his area of expertise. The only experience politicians have of plumbing is plugging leaks…
Leicester political gossip – now on the iPhone
Mar 16th
They can’t get enough of this blog…
Outgoing city council leader Ross Willmott reads it, city opposition leader Ross Grant comments on it. Newly-selected Labour leader Veejay Patel says: “Everyone’s reading it.”
Up at County Hall, officers and politicians alike keep up to date with political maneuverings and gossip here.
But it’s not always convenient to log on. If you’re not near your laptop it can take an age to load this website on an iPhone.
Never fear. I’m always looking for new ways to engage folks with the local political scene, and now you can log on in double-quick time.
Visit the blog using your iPhone at the usual address and you’ll get a simple interface (right) which takes seconds to load. The content is still the same.
Away at a seaside conference? Down the pub after committee? Log on using your iPhone – same address, just quicker.
Out of sorts
Feb 25th
Ross Grant made a decent fist of his budget amendment presentation this week – he even did a bit of a web-launch – but I was more concerned with his performance after he’d spoken at full council on Wednesday.
The usual cut-and-thrust of full council means partisan attacks are bandied back and forth, but digs at Ross (example – “there are lots of interesting and useful things on the internet, then there’s Ross Grant’s blog”) didn’t seem to stir the Conservative leader this time round. He barely raised his eyebrow at the blog attack.
Had Ross Grant discovered Buddhism? Perhaps he’d signed up as a Quaker.
“I’ve gone about three days without sleep,” he admitted after the meeting, with a bleary-eyed expression presumably last seen in the excesses of his student days. All down to his work, it seems, which can involve a lot of travel and uncomfortable hotels.
All good experience for when he become a father later this year…
