THERE is such a plethora of contradiction and hypocrisy in the BCP Tory vote of no confidence in BCP leader Cllr Vikki Slade it staggers the imagination.

The Tories were demolished across the conurbation in 2019 local elections. They had in the BCP pre-election shadow cabinet 102 seats. With reduction of overall seats in the towns falling from 120 to 75 they expected 64 seats in the new council. They got 36.

With the grand merger scheme, they managed single-handedly to construct the largest scale self-destruct political gallows in UK local election history. I find it impossible to think of a more stark case of political hubris.

And this solidly rooted in breathtaking arrogance. Refusing to listen to 84 per cent of Christchurch residents horrified by the merger proposals. And likewise in Poole refusing to listen to the vast majority of Poole residents bitterly opposed to losing our A&E and maternity.

And let us not forget this is the Tories that in all three towns ran councils as one party cabinets, if not cabals. Not a shred of power sharing. Not a glimmer.

And now at the most vulnerable of national and global times they make a power play, instead of doing the right thing, waiting for the opportunity to run a byelection. But then they know full well they have not a shred of hope of winning a lottery ticket in Christchurch, let alone a council seat.

The truth is BCP Unity Alliance has brought to our towns what we have never had, have lost sight of: Diversity, fair opportunities for all parties, with a breadth of talent and ages and interests, representing many tens of thousands more than the power-dominating Tory party ever could.

The message now to Mr Mellor and the Tories, you are the opposition party. Other parties have done this for decades. Now it’s your turn. Other parties do not want to work with you. They are rooted in social democracy caring for people, caring for the planet. Tories are rooted in wealth and privilege. Hugely different political visions.

JEFF WILLIAMS

Jubilee Road, Parkstone