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Terry Hipsey defected to Labour over a proposed Tory-BNP pact

By Micheal Casey

A proposed BNP/Tory "pact" was the tipping point for Thurrock Tory Leader Terry Hipsey defecting to Labour.

In a filmed interview with yourthurrock.com, Councillor Hipsey alleges that Tories openly discussed "not standing in wards to let the BNP win, Labour lose and so (the Tories) retaining control of the council".
 
A week later, Hipsey made an impassioned "Back me or sack me" speech at a Council Meeting.

But the pressure of leading a party "rife with extremists" plus a plea to David Cameron "falling on deaf ears" led Councillor Hipsey to cross the floor.

A document purporting to be minutes of the Group Meeting details the discussion with some Tories warning that they could be thrown out of the party.

Thurrock Tory Leaders have slammed the minutes as "wrong" and claim they have the real minutes but on film, Tory Councillor Barry Johnson refused to produce them.

Since Hipsey's departure, the BNP have held the balance of power in Thurrock with Nick Griffin launching the BNP Euro Election campaign on Thurrock Council premises.

Posted on May 30, 2009 at 10:12am


9 Comments · Show / Hide
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Why do I get the feeling this is some kind of "captured soldier" propaganda? A few weeks ago, Thurrock Labour were tabling a vote of no confidence in Mr. Hipsey. Now they welcome him in with open arms.

Looking at the EU poll with Labour behind UKIP and nationally with Labour in 3rd place. The first time a rat has joined a sinking ship.
a b @ 60 weeks and 6 days ago
Politics lacks integrity because people keep getting too absorbed in their own ambitions and loyalties. You get the same thing online. Caveat emptor.
Charles Hardwidge @ 60 weeks and 6 days ago
I have been looking through the minutes of Thurrock Council to try and gauge what sort of perosn this Mr Hipsey charachter is. I found these comments bizarre to say the least! I think the tories are glad he has gone!!! He sounds stark raving bonkers. It is interesting that apart from the Your Thurrock blog none of the main media are touching this story with a barge pole.

http://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/CmisWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=11568

"The answer I gave last month has somewhat backfired on me. Some person has been trying to infiltrate my actual full time employ. I don’t know what is behind it..."

"It is a real shame of course, a real missed opportunity, that the opposition does not ask the cost of disruption caused to our residents by the strike we
had to incur last week. The Labour Group just like to bury their heads I
the sand when people are out striking all about brought about by this
lousy government for short changing us and they are hanging our units
out to dry, at the same time making our people suffer. Councillor Kent
would rather desperately like to shy away from debating major issues
or asking questions about what is actually affecting this borough
brought about by a government desperate to reach the summer recess
so its leaders can go away on some sunny beach whilst the people in
Thurrock are hit by another round of stealth taxes or excuses to put
even more strain on families. They are at breaking point. Issues like
the latest education debacle, robbing our old age pensioners of their
private pensions, hitting the low income families, literally sucking the
life blood out of the local employers, you know, yes I know it hurts, I
know it hurts to have to listen, but come on Councillor Kent, that’s in
future, lets have some real questions and some real debate. Don’t
worry about what I am doing, so people can start using my dates
against me, re my company, lets have some real debate. Whilst the
general cost of living is going up and up through the roof, the only thing
that’s going down is this lousy government’s popularity, which is selling
out everyone, even its own voters and the financial supporters, they
have had enough of acors, Gordon Brown’s favorite word, Tax."
Emerald Hill @ 60 weeks and 6 days ago
I am a Labour Party supporter.

I don't believe this nonsense, not even for a minute. The Conservatives would not touch the BNP with a bargepole and so I expect that this story is pure fabrication.

Is this LabourList or RedRag?

McBride and Draper back are they?
Tim Robins @ 61 weeks ago
I'd be very careful with this. Neither Cameron, nor even the more right-leaning ConservativeHome (which produced the anti-BNP video), would even thing of going along with this.

Our objections to the modern Conservative Party cannot be based on the ur-racism of some of it's supporters (because, to be frank, some used to be Labour supporters are BNP voters), but on it's refusal to be clear about its economic policy, and it's unsoundness on European peace and unity.
Paul Halsall @ 61 weeks ago
Aren't they the type of tactics that Labour used in Tatton so Martin Bell could win? Increase the embarrassment factor?

So it's OK for the Labour Party to do them, but no one else

Hypocrisy

Unless the seat was actually winnable by the Conservatives, and you have to provide that evidence to make your case, then it is within the rules that have already been drawn up

The fact that Labour supporters protest votes will fall to the BNP says more about the Labour Party than it does anything else.
Stronghold Barricades @ 61 weeks ago
Im sure this is pure mickey mouse land,
martin lewis @ 61 weeks ago
i dont like the tories one bit, but i reckon hipsey is winding you up - or else he,s not the full ticket. He sounds as if he has a marvelous imagination. Frankly, i wouldnt believe it for a moment
Alan Giles @ 61 weeks ago
He will feel right at home with Milibands and the Purnells the rest of the Tory colour blind MP's.
Robert phew @ 61 weeks ago