Brecon and Radnorshire politicians Fay Jones MP, James Evans MS, and The Association Chairman Peter Weavers have spoken out offering their full support to Cllr Iain Macintosh following his decision to resign from Powys County Council Cabinet.
In a letter written to the local press Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative Association Chairman Peter Weavers commented
"Powys County Council’s cabinet decision to continue the process has caused Iain McIntosh, county councillor for the Yscir ward and a staunch member of the Conservative Party, to stand down from his position in cabinet and from the Conservative Group at County Hall.
Councillor McIntosh has my full support. While recognising that rural schools have been placed under threat by Welsh Government policy, the Conservative Party in Wales has fought recent elections accompanied by manifesto commitments that call the cabinet’s continuing threat to the future of the school at Cradoc into extremely serious question.
Iain stands by the party’s manifesto commitments because he is a true Conservative, a man of principle and a man who stands with and on behalf of his community for what is right.
I look forward to joining Iain in many campaigns to come as we continue to promote what we believe to be policies that will improve lives, conditions and places throughout Brecon and Radnorshire. Those policies are founded in real Conservatism; I salute and support Iain for standing up to be counted in their pursuit"
Cllr Macintosh responded
"I remain as the County Councillor for the Yscir ward and will continue as a Conservative, outside what is currently referred to as the ‘Powys Conservative Group’ within Powys County Council. I will also continue to be the deputy chairman of the Brecon & Radnorshire Conservative Association.
Currently, the Powys Conservative Group are a minority group of 14 councillors all from Montgomeryshire, in coalition with 23 Independent councillors. The authority’s Cabinet currently has 2 Montgomeryshire Conservative members and 5 Independent members.
During the current term of council (since May 2017), I have accepted that as the coalition minority group, the Conservatives have had to play a supportive role in running Powys County Council. Most decisions and policies have been made with the support of both parties, but behind the scenes, some decisions have not received unanimous support between all members in both groups. School closures is one example of that.
The current education transformation proposals, currently rolling out throughout the whole of Wales, are currently being supported by the Powys Independent Group, together with the Powys Conservative Group leader and Conservative education Cabinet member. I’m not sure whether all Montgomeryshire Conservatives support the proposals.
Prior to leaving Cabinet, I supported the closure of two primary schools: Llanbedr and Dolau, as I was informed neither school would be able to deliver the new Donaldson’s curriculum. I therefore believed this would affect pupils’ learning experience, and be detrimental to their education, so I reluctantly voted to close both schools.
Following my decision to leave Cabinet after the unacceptable decision made to close Cradoc Primary School, I have been informed that both Llanbedr and Dolau schools ARE able to deliver the new Donaldson’s curriculum. In fact, I have been informed that the current Welsh Government education minister, Jeremy Miles MS, has even stated that the new curriculum has been designed with small schools in mind. I therefore withdraw my support of both school closures.
Going forward, I must urge the Powys Conservative group leader and Powys Conservative education Cabinet member to reconsider their support of the Welsh education transformation proposals, immediately. It’s clear to me that:
1. Small schools ARE capable of delivering the new curriculum.
2. Closing these schools goes against the wishes of the Welsh Conservative Party.
3. There is NO evidence, whatsoever, to prove pupils would receive a better learning experience, or receive a better education, in fewer, but larger schools.
In a joint statement Fay Jones MP and James Evans MS said
"We are both in full support of Cllr Iain Macintosh who made the brave decision to stand down from Powys County Council Cabinet after their misguided decision to merge Cradoc school with Mount Street.
We believe the council are not acting in the best interests of the residents. Our stance has always been that we utterly oppose the closure of rural schools and will work with Iain to oppose these decisions.
More from Fay Jones can be found on her website here and from James Evans MS website here
