Guy McGregor
Suffolk: McGregor’s apparent handbrake turn on support for MP
By Paul Geater
Saturday, February 16, 2013
8:08 AM
SUFFOLK cabinet member Guy McGregor has issued a statement of support for his local Conservative MP – just a week after saying he would not vote for him again.
Mr McGregor is cabinet member for transport and planning at the Tory-controlled county council, and had said he could not support Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter after the minister backed plans to allow gay couples to marry.
At the time he said: “I will not support him or vote for him again. He knows this and knows why I have taken this decision.
“I have always made this position clear and I tried to have a debate on this at the constituency AGM last year, but it was ruled out of order by the association president.”
Mr McGregor’s comments caused concern among grassroot members of the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich Conservative Association.
It is understood that many members shared his concerns about the gay marriage vote – but felt it was unacceptable for such a senior Conservative to say he would no longer support his MP.
Mr McGregor came under pressure from members of his association, and his colleagues on the county council, and has now issued a statement retracting his original comments.
It says: “Last week’s parliamentary vote on gay marriage was an emotive national issue with many people expressing views on either side of the debate.
“For reasons of conscience, religious belief, and reflecting the views of many of my constituents, I for one believe that the sanctity of marriage can only be maintained if it remains an act of commitment between a man and a woman.
“In expressing my views, I made comments about the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich which I would like to clarify.
“The way a politician chooses to vote on any issue should be subject to legitimate and meaningful debate but ultimately it is for them to decide and to justify their position to the electorate.
“Dan Poulter is doing a good job as MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and he has my support.”
Dr Poulter has written a letter explaining his position on gay marriage which he has sent to constituents who have contacted him about the vote.
In it he said: “I do not believe that it is right to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation and it is for this reason that I shall be voting in favour of the proposals for same-sex marriage.”
However Dr Poulter said he did not want to make any further comment about Mr McGregor’s latest statement.
Latest News See all
- Ipswich: Paramedic tells court patient hit her with claw hammer during 999 call out
- Update: Soldier killed in machete attack outside Woolwich barracks
- Ipswich: It was 50 years ago today... The Beatles’ first visit to Ipswich remembered
- Ipswich: Waiter remembers the night he served The Beatles their tea
- Felixstowe: Book festival to host 40 writers at first ever event
More news
- Ipswich: Paramedic tells court patient hit her with claw hammer during 999 call out
- Update: Soldier killed in machete attack outside Woolwich barracks
- Ipswich: It was 50 years ago today... The Beatles’ first visit to Ipswich remembered
- Ipswich: Waiter remembers the night he served The Beatles their tea
- Felixstowe: Book festival to host 40 writers at first ever event
- Martlesham: Running club steps in to save popular race
- Ipswich Town: New kits leaked on Twitter
- Suffolk Show 2013: Event is just the ticket for troops
- Felixstowe: Renovation of seafront gardens is under way
- Suffolk Show 2013: A fantastic day out for all the family
Suffolk Show
Education
Summer
Crime Week
Campaign
Festivals
Star Savers
Motoring
Oldest English Town
I Love Ipswich
Mr. Ipswich
James Marston
Digital edition
Read today's paper online now
Send us a story
iwitness24 Your news is our news Facebook Like your local paper Twitter Join the conversation Ipswich Borough CouncilADVERTISEMENT
10 comments
Wow Ipswich sewage ending up in Tuddenham village! What do Suffolk Coastal say about that? To be quite honest I don't think Dr Dan will be too obstructive to the proposal as it's his Government who is allowing developers to rampage over the countryside leaving councils like Ipswich Borough and its residents a big bill to pay for all these meetings and experts which go over the same old stuff not to mention the IBC staff manhours. Mind you some of the meetings are quite entertaining and the best case of NIMBYism I have heard was at the Northgate Meeting when a woman stood up and asked that the planning dept take into consideration the view of a hedge that she looks out on from her kitchen window! Isn't that at planning application stage?
Report this comment
Tolly
Saturday, February 16, 2013
No need to over-complicate this issue. The Tories are getting all their ducks in a row for the county council elections in May as it's really not allowed to have in-fighting in public. Politicians only ever do anything for expedience and this is another example of them toeing the party line.
Report this comment
skrich
Saturday, February 16, 2013
I never understood what gay marriage had to do with government,the church people made up this religion fairy tale,it's up to them to come up with some answers to gay marriage,they'd already decided it was a union between a man and a woman,let's see them now do a 'u' turn.
Report this comment
Tony G
Saturday, February 16, 2013
If the MP's were allowed a free vote on the definition of marriage surely Mr McGregor is entitled to have his "opinion" on whether to vote for someone he disagrees with. Perhaps his error was in speaking publicly about it.
Report this comment
DALINE
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Further proof that you can't believe a single word that politicians of all levels spout, or rather you can their initial statements, before they are instructed to change their views by their party "spin doctors".
Report this comment
england1770
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Loathsome as he is, McGregor's political incompetence is always good for a laugh.
Report this comment
Origami Penguin
Saturday, February 16, 2013
It's good to see leading local politicians "talking together" again; working in unison on important local issues, such as this weeks proposals to consider as an option shifting Ipswich's sewage to Tuddenham, a Suffolk Coastal village! Guy's presence at the packed meeting about local developers and Ipswich Borough Council's "aspirations" for North Ipswich was held for local constituents and Parish Councils from the Northern Ipswich area by MP Dan Poulter at Tuddenham Village last night . We hope both Dan and Guy, who will debate Suffolk County Council's response to the Borough at an Open to the public Cabinet meeting on 26th February at 11am at Endeavour House will reflect on the many concerns raised, on traffic, pollution, rat runs, flooding, and key issues such as options being evaluated to pump the sewage effluent from the North Fringe's thousands of new homes "across country" to new waste facilities within Tuddenham Village; an area of outstanding Natural Beauty and a Country Wildlife site enjoyed regularly by many within Ipswich itself. Any expansion of the existing tiny sewage treatment facility which currently only serves the villages will add to traffic nuisance, distress of neighbouring properties and have a serious adversely impact on the Quality of life within the village. Why should the villages even be considered as to having to take this burden because alternative solutions might be just two expensive and make the whole North Fringe proposal non viable?
Report this comment
SOCS
Saturday, February 16, 2013
This chap is Suffolk's answer to the Vicar of Bray. The sooner he retreats into decent obscurity, the better for all of us.
Report this comment
T Doff
Saturday, February 16, 2013
It's good to see leading local politicians "talking together" again; working in unison on important local issues, such as this weeks proposals to consider as an option shifting Ipswich's sewage to Tuddenham, a Suffolk Coastal village! Guy's presence at the packed meeting about local developers and Ipswich Borough Council's "aspirations" for North Ipswich was held for local constituents and Parish Councils from the Northern Ipswich area by MP Dan Poulter at Tuddenham Village last night was very welcome. We hope both Dan and Guy, who will head the debate for Suffolk County Council's response to the Borough at an Open to the public Cabinet meeting on 26th February at 11am at Endeavour House, will reflect on the MANY CONCERNS raised, on traffic, pollution, rat runs, flooding, and key issues such as options being evaluated to pump the sewage effluent from the North Fringe's thousands of new homes "across country" to new waste facilities within Tuddenham Village; an area of outstanding Natural Beauty and a Country Wildlife site enjoyed regularly by many within Ipswich itself. Any expansion of the existing tiny sewage treatment facility, which currently only serves the villages, will add to traffic nuisance, distress of neighbouring properties and have a serious adversely impact on the Quality of life within the village. Why should the villages even be considered as to having to take this burden because alternative solutions might be just two expensive and make the whole North Fringe proposal non viable?
Report this comment
SOCS
Saturday, February 16, 2013
What an MP saying one thing and doing another , never heard that before !
Report this comment
Poppys Dad
Saturday, February 16, 2013