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Elections 2021: Allegation Tory asked Bucks Council candidate ‘how will she be politician AND mum?’
A female councillor was allegedly asked by a former Conservative politician âhow will she manage a career in politics and be a mother at the same timeâ.
Cllr Penny Drayton has claimed a former (then sitting) member of Bucks Council approached her outside a polling station on May 6 ahead of the local elections and asked her âhow she intended to do the role with three childrenâ.
Cllr Drayton stood as an Independent in The Wooburns, Bourne End and Hedsor, alongside Cllrs Stuart Wilson and Sophie Kayani.
The trio took the seat from former representatives Julia Langley, Julia Adey, and Graham Peart.
Cllr Drayton (left), alongside Cllrs Stuart Wilson and Sophie Kayani
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The person in question was unnamed, but Cllr Drayton said they were previously âa serving member of the majority partyâ.
She claimed the implication was that she âwould not be able to fulfil the roleâ with a family.
She said âin practice, attitudes, behaviours and actionsâ are ânot always reflectiveâ of the words in the membersâ Code of Conduct.
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âI stood, as did the other councillors for our ward, Cllrs Stuart Wilson and Sophie Kayani, because we felt residents needed to be represented by people who reflect the diversity of the community and would not be constrained by party politicsâ, said Cllr Drayton.
âOn polling day, whilst being located outside the largest polling station in the ward, an existing councillor (now former) from the majority party turned to me and said, âIf you were to win, how do you intend to be able to do the role being a mother of three children?â
âThe implications were that someone in my position would not be able to fulfil the role.
âWhilst I have every confidence in my ability to do this, we feel the council should also include provision for any person â full-time worker, parents, those with other time constraints â to fully participate in council business and have flexibility and not give the impression of being selective to a certain type of person only.â
As society begins to open, Cllr Drayton said she and her colleagues âbelieve there needs to be more acceptance and flexibility within the way the council operates, which would enable a more diverse group of members to step forward, while also saving time, money, and helping the environment.â
She added: âThe IMPACT Alliance Grouping fully endorse the membersâ Code of Conduct, but our experience so far is that, in practice, attitudes, behaviours and actions are not always reflective of the words within.
âTimes have changed and working practices and attitudes should reflect this.â
A Bucks Council spokesman said: âCouncillors are expected to abide by the highest standards of conduct when acting in their role as councillors.
âWhere the monitoring officer receives a complaint about the conduct of a named councillor then there are detailed procedures in place for that complaint to be assessed and, where appropriate, investigated which can result in sanctions.
âNo such formal complaint has been received from Cllr Drayton. Â It would be inappropriate for the council to comment further.â
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Last updated by System Admin on 27th August, 2018