Great Yarmouth Reform MP attacked for 'corruption' comments

Rupert Lowe, Reform MP for Great Yarmouth, stirred the ire of the Tory-led Great Yarmouth Borough Council after he criticised the authority's plans to meet government-set housing targets and build 4,350 homes.

It comes as cabinet members voted to proceed with their local plan - a vital document that sets planning policies for a 20-year time frame, detailing where such housing developments can go ahead. 

Gorleston and Great Yarmouth looking north (Image: Mike Page)

The businessman and MP took to Facebook this week, saying that he would "fight" to oppose it while also blaming "uncontrolled mass immigration" for the lack of housing and pressure on services like doctors and schools. 

He said: "This is madness - the infrastructure in Great Yarmouth simply cannot cope... [it is] totally irresponsible... to put it bluntly we are full.

"I do not support these plans, and use whatever influence I have as Great Yarmouth's MP to fight them."

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Rupert Lowe celebrating the opening of his temporary office in Great Yarmouth (Image: Rupert Lowe)

Another subsequent post asked people for their views on the local plan.

This led to his followers commenting on the post, with several claiming councillors and officers are "corrupt" and are taking "brown envelopes" from developers.

Councillors complained to Jon Wedden, Mr Lowe's constituency office manager who was present at the cabinet meeting this week, that despite requests for these comments to be removed, they remained visible.

Great Yarmouth town hall from across the river (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2014)

Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour group, said: "There has been no attempt for those comments to be taken down. I don’t know if they are there to create dissent or hate.

"The local plan has already been out to consultation, residents and businesses have been involved, they have had their say.

"Unfortunately, the new MP then comes along and says he will stop the housing being built in Yarmouth."

Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour group at Great Yarmouth Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

Carl Smith, leader of the Conservative-led council, added: "This affects us as councillors and our members of staff. This is a serious offence that would carry a prison sentence. It is totally untrue and needs to be taken off."

Mr Wedden, who said he was not a Reform member but just an employee of Mr Lowe, said that the comments were made by his constituents, not the MP.

He added that Mr Lowe is "not monitoring his Facebook page 24/7".

Carl Smith, leader of the Conservative-controlled Great Yarmouth Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

However, councillors highlighted that he is very active on social media and called for his staff to better monitor the platform.

'MADE A MISTAKE'

Councillors also accused Mr Lowe of misunderstanding what the local plan policy is.

Local authorities are set housing targets by central government which they must meet in order to cope with the UK's growing population.

The policy helps to control where developments take place as without it, they could take place anywhere.

Caister-on-Sea has been earmarked for 1,100 homes (Image: Mike Page)

Paul Wells, cabinet member for environment, said that without a local plan, there would be "anarchy" and that the council would be at risk from "predatory developers".

Officers also highlighted there are many factors that have led to the housing crisis, including people living in smaller family groups, a decline in social housing and a failure to build more homes for decades. 

Daniel Candon, cabinet member for economic development and growth, added: "Saying we are full due to uncontrolled immigration is absolute rubbish.

"His criticism should be aimed at central government, so in a way he is criticising himself. I hope he realises he has made a mistake."

Rupert Lowe sat in front of a mural in Great Yarmouth (Image: Rupert Lowe)

FRAUGHT RELATIONS

This is the second clash Mr Lowe has had with Great Yarmouth Borough Council this week.

The authority has also chosen to fly the 'progress' flag - a symbol which features the colours of the transgender flag - outside Town Hall.

This was done as a direct rebuke to comments the MP made on social media, in which he said the flag should not be flown from public buildings.

This has led to a continued war of words between the MP and councillors.

Mr Lowe has also been fiercely critical of his local hospital, the James Paget, which has flown the flag and also issued instructions for people not to say that babies are "born female or male" in case it offends members of the LGBTQ community.

Instead, they are told to say that babies are "assigned female/male at birth", as this "accurately reflects what happens".

Mr Lowe said the hospital appeared to "not know what happens when a baby is born".