SIR — With reference to the recent reports in your newspaper regarding the appointment of Cllr Simon Stokes to the cabinet of West Somerset District Council, on behalf of the Minehead and District Branch of the Labour Party I would make the following points.
Firstly, whether one agrees with the cabinet system or not, or how it is currently being run, all councillors of whatever political persuasion are obliged to represent the people who elected them.
We believe that to be effective councillors this can only be done by using whatever system is in place, whether it is the system one would have chosen or not. All too often, people stand on the sidelines and criticise but this is not constructive.
Secondly, whether Cllrs Turpin and Banks did 'officially' resign from the Labour Group or not, the position was that the three other members of the group were given the firm impression that they had and therefore acted accordingly.
We do understand that in a democracy people are entitled to express different views, but when it comes to elected representatives being an effective opposition, we believe that it is important for members to stand together to work within the system, whatever it may be.
Thirdly, Simon Stokes only accepted a place in the cabinet after discussion with various members of the branch and with other councillors. It was felt that it was important for there to be continuity within the cabinet meetings and that Labour voters should not be unrepresented.
With only five members in the group, two of whom were deemed to have resigned and one of whom was the departing Cllr Eddie May, that left only two candidates and the decision was made accordingly.
Finally, at a branch meeting last Friday evening, an in-depth debate was held which resulted in Simon Stokes and Ivor Gibbon being overwhelmingly supported in the position they had taken.
Peter Slade,
Chairman,
Minehead and District Branch of the Labour Party.