CLAIMS Cllr Jonathan Bacon tried to cover up his colleague's drink driving charge have been denied by the Isle of Wight Council leader.


He dismissed the allegations as 'desperate attempts to fling mud' after the Conservative group leader, Cllr Dave Stewart, accused him of 'spinning' yesterday's reshuffle announcement to conceal the fact Cllr Phil Jordan had stepped down.

As reported, Cllr Jordan is due to appear before magistrates on Tuesday charged with drink driving.

Cllr Bacon said the reshuffle had been planned for some time and maintained it was aimed at progressing the council's regeneration efforts.

He praised Cllr Jordan's abilities, as well as his 'warmth and generosity,' and said the executive would be poorer without him.

For more on this story, and an interview with Cllr Bacon, see the County Press on Friday, December 9.