Wrexham’s MP slams “overt politicisation of Wrexham Council by officers”

Wrexham’s Member of Parliament has slammed the ‘overt politicisation of Wrexham Council by officers’.

The issue came about during the Armistice Day ceremony, with a civic party including Wrexham’s MS Lesley Griffiths but not the MP Sarah Atherton.

Ian Bancroft Wrexham Council’s Chief Executive, who is also Acting Returning Officer for elections and the Regional Returning Officer for the Senedd, has now received a complaint stating there has been “overt politicisation of Wrexham Council by council officers”.

Sarah Atherton MP has raised the formal complaint, and has written to Wrexham Council Chief Executive Ian Bancroft stating: “This is not the first time that I have had to highlight the overt politicisation of Wrexham Council by council officers and employees.

“In the run-up to a General Election, the people of Wrexham deserve their elected officials to be treated fairly and for the council to adopt a more inclusive approach.”

In her letter Sarah Atherton said,: I am writing to complain in the strongest possible terms that, as the Member of Parliament for Wrexham, I was not formally included in the Armistice Day Ceremony that took place last Saturday at Queens Square in Wrexham.

“Although I was invited to the event as a member of the public, I was not formally invited as a civic leader, nor was I made aware of the arrangements of the Mayoral Party.

“It was therefore incredibly disappointing to see that Labour’s Senedd Members were part of the Mayor’s Party.

“As an ex-regular soldier, veteran, former UK Government Defence Minister and current member of the Defence Select Committee, I have continuously worked hard to improve Wrexham’s military footprint, with some success.

“It is frankly insulting to the people of Wrexham that Wrexham Council chose to play politics on Armistice Day by inviting members of one party and exclude the city’s Member of Parliament.”

Wrapping up the complaint she added: “Sadly, this weekend has clearly shown that Wrexham Council is stuck in the past and has adopted an insular and partisan approach.

“It is a shame that the council fails to see how their actions hold Wrexham back and disrespect large sections of our community” asking for “strong and robust action to address these issues “.

On Tuesday morning we asked Wrexham Council about the civic protocol for Armistice Day, and if there was any detail from Wrexham Council about what happened and what the usual process is.

We also asked Wrexham Council about the specific comment regarding the claim of ‘overt politicisation of WCBC’ by officers, with a link to the electoral process.

Looking through the archives it appears it is the first time a MP or MS has made such a claim, with Wrexham’s MP referring to it not being the first time the issue has been raised.

We also invited any wider comment or context around the letter.

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “We’ve received the letter and will investigate the complaint made.”

(Top pic: Wrexham’s MP at Remembrance Sunday, and below, her letter.)