Expelled
Cllr Matt Binley has been kicked out of the Tory group at North Northamptonshire Council, but says he will appeal
By Sarah Ward
A former senior figure from North Northamptonshire Council has been expelled from the Conservative group.
Former police officer, Cllr Matt Binley found out his fate today after an extraordinary meeting held by the Conservative group on the North unitary last night.
The allegations against Cllr Binley, which NN Journal is currently unable to share, were put to him and he had a chance to respond. The councillors then had a secret vote, with the decision made to remove him.
Cllr Binley, who is the son of former Northants MP Brian Binley, will remain on the authority as an independent councillor and says he will appeal the decision. Until last month he had been the cabinet member for highways, a position he lost when he was suspended by the council’s leader, Cllr Jason Smithers.
In a statement to NN Journal, Cllr Binley said:
“I can confirm that as of 12:00 today, I have been informed that the North Northamptonshire Conservative Group has voted to expel me from the group at a meeting that was held last night. Whilst I am of course disappointed by this decision, I fully intend to appeal in due course.
“This matter relates to historic allegations from 16 years ago, which were thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities at the time. Following their comprehensive review, no further action was taken, and there is no current ongoing investigation. Therefore, I will not be commenting further on these historic closed allegations.
“I maintain that I have always been open and honest with the Party at all times and have conducted myself with integrity throughout my public service. I remain committed to serving the residents of Brickhill and Queensway Ward in Wellingborough with the utmost diligence and dedication throughout the remainder of my term in office.”
NN Journal has spoken with councillors who attended the meeting who have described the meeting held in the chamber of the former Kettering Borough Council offices as ‘horrible’, ‘disgusting’ and ‘shocking’.
Details of the allegations were put to Cllr Binley in a report read out by Cllr Mark Rowley.
One councillor said there was an audible gasp when Cllr Binley answered a specific question by a fellow councillor.
The details of what was said in the meeting are now likely to have to lead to further action by the leader Cllr Jason Smithers.
NN Journal has contacted the leader and the council’s press office for a comment.
Binley was a special in Northants police before serving as an officer in the 2000s. Before he was selected as a candidate to represent the Conservatives in the first ever elections to the authority in 2021, Cllr Binley was convicted of conspiring with a relative to cover up a drink drive crime committed in 2010, the year after he had left the Northants police force.
It is understood the new allegations considered by the North Northants Conservative Group do not relate to these dealt with matters. Northants Police confirmed last month that he quit his police officer job while under a misconduct investigation and the matter was dropped.
I understand from a previous review conducted by NNJOURNAL on Cllr Matt Binley, that Rusden Conservative Cllr David Jenney (now dead) did support him. Further revelation show, that he was not the only one. A small group of Conservatives Cllrs are still supporting him. That group knew full well what Cllr Matt Binley had been upto. Yet, they preferred to say nothing except in his defence. What happened in the past will not have any barring today so they like you to believe. Think again.
The trick was to resign before a "Gross misconduct hearing". This to keep their pension and no further action would follow. How convenient. The sad think about this is, that the law supported this until not long ago, when the Sarah Everard case put things in a different perspective. Binley latest outbursts, just demonstrate a spoiled child who's every whim was pandered to. Quite how he equates his life up to now as a success and without blemish is hard to understand. What sort of person is prepared to elect such poor character person in public office? We're is the safeguarding to the public that the Police, the Commissioner publicised in their "Crime Plan"? What about the Unitary Council themselves is this not an assault on the public? Where is their NOLAN principle here?
Another Tory controversy erupts and there is no one to blame other than those responsible for the nomination and promotion of local politicians whose personal histories make them unfit for public office. Self-interest and self-preservation reigns supreme in the county. No wonder the public are so disenchanted with the local political and police establishment. Until the long-standing political class who have run Northants for far too long are got rid of there is no hope. The police stables also need a deep clean.
The continuous scandals, attempted cover-ups and exposure of cronyism are proving to be a fertile recruiting ground for right wing fascism which, alarmingly, is on the rise again. We never learn.
Criticism of the current state of affairs extends to Northants Police to whom attention must turn again. Who knew what and when and was there a cover-up over Cllr Matt Binley when he left the police force?
What is being reported about Cllr Binley is that he resigned from Northants Police when he was under investigation for an allegation of misconduct. The actual allegation and who made the allegation is unspecified. The law at the time meant that a police officer under investigation for misconduct could resign and the investigation would be stopped. What a cop-out!!
However, this related to misconduct and not possible criminal offences. Neither the Northamptonshire Telegraph or NN Journal have been able to go into detail for understandable reasons but there is enough in all the media reports to know it is of a sexual nature. Enough said.
It is apparent from the media reports that the Conservative councillors of North Northamptonshire Council heard details of the allegations and according to NN Journal there was an “audible gasp” when Cllr Binley replied to a question from a member. So, the question that needs to be put to the North Northamptonshire Tory Councillors and its leadership is are they providing statements to the police which can form the basis of a full and proper investigation? Where is their moral compass? What happened to the Nolan Principles applying to those in public office? Aren’t these councillors under a legal and moral duty to report the matter to the police?