DESCRIBING the Island Independents as a failed dream following his resignation, Cllr Steve Stubbings has warned the Isle of Wight faces a slow death due to the government's 'war on the poor.'
With just two days until Wednesday's full council meeting, where a new leader and deputy are set to be elected, Cllr Stubbings said the Island Independents had no preferred leadership candidate and only one member — Cllr Luisa Hillard — had put her name forward.
When asked if the group had fallen apart, he replied: "Yes."
Cllr Stubbings said the group would cease to exist in its current form after the May election, and confirmed he would not stand again.
He revealed Cllr Hillard had launched a leadership bid even before Cllr Bacon's resignation, and said other members were unenthusiastic about her candidature. He said he would not support her, as he did not believe she had the necessary qualities to lead the council.
"We came in with dreams. We really thought we could change politics after eight years of Conservative rule. But I've learnt we don't have many choices, except to choose the option that causes the least damage. And that's not a good position to be in," he said.
"The problems the Isle of Wight faces are down to the government's austerity agenda and we are tired of being the stooges for that. It's possible to set a balanced budget, but it would have to be by people wedded to that agenda.
"That agenda is a war on the poor and I'm not going to be part of it."
Urging the Conservatives to step up, after previously declining to challenge for the leadership, Cllr Stubbings said: "It will be an interesting bunfight. I'm not running away. I'll be there.
"I would like to see their leader Dave Stewart take over."
When asked if the Island Independent group was in such a shambles, that he would rather see the Tories run the council and leave the Island at the mercy of further cuts, Cllr Stubbings said: "I find it almost unimaginable that it could get any worse. The only thing that can happen is that the Island will die a slow death.
"We came in with real belief that we could do something different and, in several areas, we have failed."
Both Cllr Stubbings and Cllr Bacon criticised the chamber's party politics and accused members of sniping from the sidelines rather than contributing, and putting their own egos before the issues and concerns of Island people.
Cllr Bacon said: "We have a majority who would rather play games and fit into the negative stereotype of the self-centred, bickering, power seeking politician, or simply act at the behest of their party leadership, rather than take responsibility for the work that needs to be done to fight the brickbats of central government."Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk