Gosport heading for dramatic political showdown as rivals accuse Lib Dems of 'trying to cling to power'

An extraordinary full council meeting has been called for Tuesday (January 27) after the Liberal Democrats’ majority collapsed following a by-election defeat and the mayor leaving the party to sit as an independent.

The turning point came in Bridgemary, where Reform UK’s Paul Carter narrowly won a by-election triggered by the death of councillor Bob Maynard last November.

The result cost the Liberal Democrats a seat, leaving them without overall control of the 28-seat council. The current political balance is now 11 Conservatives, two Labour, one Reform UK councillor and one independent, with 13 Liberal Democrats.

Opposition councillors have since said tensions escalated after the Liberal Democrat leader postponed the next scheduled full council meeting indefinitely.

In a statement, Conservative councillors accused the council’s Liberal Democrat leadership of attempting to “grab power from elected members”, adding the move left opposition councillors unable to properly scrutinise decisions.

They said they were forced to formally request an extraordinary meeting, a request that was approved by the mayor, allowing the issue to be debated later this month.

Conservative councillor Stephen Philpott has now tabled a motion calling for changes to the council’s constitution, arguing the current system concentrates too much power in the hands of the Liberal Democrat leadership.

“I want the restoration of the democratic process,” Cllr Philpott said.

“I want to re-establish better, more transparent decision-making so the public can see what is going on. The council’s constitution is the foundation of democracy, and restoring those powers will allow councillors of all political parties to be part of decision-making at Gosport council.”

His motion proposes two key changes. The first would return decision-making on areas such as sport, heritage buildings and cemeteries to the community and environment board, rather than decisions being taken centrally.

The second would reinstate “minority orders” — formal procedures that allow councillors who are not part of the ruling group to challenge and scrutinise decisions before they are implemented.

Cllr Philpott said these powers were removed in May 2022 when Councillor Peter Chegwyn became council leader.

He claims that around 95 per cent of decisions affecting residents are currently made by the policy and organisation board, which is controlled by Cllr Chegwyn and seven Liberal Democrat councillors.

Cllr Philpott warned that the leader may attempt to restrict debate on the proposed changes.

“He won’t want a debate. He will try and stop it,” he said. “It’s not in his interest to restore the standing orders.”

The motion will be debated at the extraordinary meeting at Gosport Town Hall. Opposition councillors said they will push for constitutional changes they believe better reflect the council’s new political balance.