THE DAUGHTER of Cornwall Council leader Alec Robertson has sprungto his defence on the internet.
Last week the West Briton reported a caller's anger at having amessage meant for Mr Robertson intercepted by his daughter. BerniceLawson, a carer, had called the Conservative group leader using hishome number, provided on the Cornwall Council website, to protest ata decision to remove Jan Powell as chairman of the council's healthscrutiny committee.
Mr Robertson told the West Briton that while he was "fair game",his family was not.
However, it has now emerged that daughter Juliet has taken to theTwitter social networking website to defend the beleaguered leader,commenting on last week's reports and turning on those who criticiseher father.
She posted a link on Twitter to the West Briton's story onwww.thisiscornwall.co.uk She also commented on the story and onFriday stated: "'Alec Robertson hides behind his daughter' haha I'lltake that as a compliment."
Call Prior to that she appeared to comment on the phone call madeby Mrs Lawson, stating: "Could someone please tell Jan Powell not totell her friend to ring up my house again leaving a silly littlecatty voicemail."
Four days later she commented: "He's lost Jan Powell, thank god",and later: "We always get bitchy messages haha. Just plain rudecalling our home number."
Mrs Lawson said this week: "It shows Mr Robertson can't evencontrol his daughter, let alone the council. I'm surprised he wouldallow his daughter to comment on these matters in such a publicway."
Juliet's Twitter timeline also shows a comment on the decision byLocal Government Secretary Eric Pickles to grant planning permissionfor an incinerator at St Dennis to deal with Cornwall's waste.
Mr Robertson was widely criticised after it was revealed he hadwritten to Mr Pickles urging him to allow the incinerator, despitethe council defending its decision to refuse the application. Juliettweeted: "Brilliant news I reckon", and later: "Great news for therest of Cornwall. Economically and environmentally. It's got to gosomewhere." While not a prolific tweeter - she has only posted 37times since June 2009 - the vast majority have come since May andalmost all concern Cornwall Council matters.
A COUNCILLOR controversially sacked as chairman of a CornwallCouncil scrutiny committee has defected from the ruling Conservativegroup to the Liberal Democrats.
Jan Powell, councillor for Liskeard North, received crosspartysupport after she was removed from the chair of the health and adultsocial care overview and scrutiny committee by leader AlecRobertson, a move also attacked by health and disabilitycampaigners.
It has been claimed she was sacked after criticising Mr Robertsonat a group meeting in which his leadership was challenged.
Untenable On Friday she announced she had left the Tory group andcrossed the floor, saying: "The recent actions of the leader havemade my position within the Conservative group untenable and I havebeen left with no option but to seek support from a party throughwhom I can make my voice heard and properly represent the electorswho voted me in.
"The leader of the council has become remote from rankand-filemembers of all parties and has marginalised councillors from thedemocratic process.
The choices he makes always seem to be those most damaging toCornwall and are not the choices I campaigned on, notwithstandingthe tight financial restraints the council is operating under. Anexample of this was the ill-informed attack on the Supporting Peopleprogramme and was the principle reason why I voted against theadministration's budget this year.
"There has to be openness and transparency in everything we doand consultation must mean exactly that. Over the past 12 monthsthere has been a marked contrast between the behind-closeddoorsapproach of Cornwall's Tory leadership and the openminded, people-first outlook of the council's Liberal Democrats.
The people of Cornwall rightly expect us to do our best toprotect the services they value so highly and I'm very much lookingforward to making a start on the vital work needed to put thingsright at County Hall."
Lib Dem leader Jeremy Rowe welcomed her to his group, saying:"Jan has always shown a willingness to work across party lines andit demonstrates how out of touch the Tories have become that theysee this approach as a threat. There has to be room for independentvoices and I think Cornwall benefits from the expertise ofcouncillors like Jan."
It is widely believed the Lib Dems would reinstate Mrs Powell tothe scrutiny committee.
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