East Riding councillors in heated debate on motion objecting to rise in bus fare cap

An East Riding councillor was accused of 'wasting time' during a heated debate on the new £3 bus fare cap.

In a full council meeting on Wednesday (November 13), East Riding councillors debated a motion regarding the government's decision to up the bus fare cap in England from £2 to £3 from next year.

Cllr Sean McMaster, of the Conservative Party, presented a motion to the chamber which proposed that, in addition to writing to Chancellor Rachel Reeves calling for a rethink on the change, the authority should "write to Sir David Davis MP, Emma Hardy MP, Dame Diana Johnson MP and Charlie Dewhirst MP to encourage them to follow the example of Graham Stuart MP and stand by their constituents to oppose this rise in fares".

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Cllr Denis Healy, leader of East Riding's Liberal Democrat group, presented an amendment to Cllr McMaster's motion, suggesting to remove the mention of Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, and instead have the motion simply read: "Write to relevant Hull and East Riding MPs to encourage them to oppose this rise in fares."

Cllr Healy argued that Mr Stuart should not be mentioned, saying "the motion mentions a politician [Graham Stuart MP] who has, with his colleagues, brought this country to economic misery and it's an attempt to curry favour with him, and if you have that in the motion, we will not support it".

Cllr Healy's amendment received criticism from several councillors due to its likeness to Cllr McMaster's original motion. "This amendment is a complete waste of time," said Conservative councillor Lyn Healing, who added: "Quite frankly I am astonished it's even being entertained here, it's a blatant plagiarism."

Cllr Healy responded to his critics by asking "what is an amendment to a motion?" He added: "We are told we can't amend that because you've just changed something here or there. That's actually what an amendment is.

"If you think it's a waste of time why are you even here? What you're saying is that democracy and the proceeding of this place [the Council chamber] are a waste of time."

Ultimately, following a rather heated affair, Cllr Healy's amendment was rejected by councillors by 34 to 17 votes, with a single member choosing to abstain. Cllr McMaster's original motion was passed by the council - 28 to 17 - with 7 abstentions, meaning East Riding Of Yorkshire Council will write to Sir David Davis MP, Emma Hardy MP, Dame Diana Johnson MP and Charlie Dewhirst MP to encourage them to "follow the example of Graham Stuart MP".

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