Jeff Green (politician)

Jeffrey Edwin Green (born 5 May 1957) is a British Conservative politician and former leader of Wirral Council between 2010 and 2011 and in 2012.[1] He was the first Conservative to hold the role in 24 years.[2]

Cllr Jeff Green
Councillor Jeff Green chairing a Wirral West constituency committee in June 2018.
Conservative Party Group Leader on Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 December 2020[3]
Deputy	Leslie Rennie
Preceded by	Ian Lewis
In office 2002 – 8 May 2017[1]
Deputy	Leslie Rennie
Preceded by	John Hale
Succeeded by	Ian Lewis
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Councillor for West Kirby and Thurstaston Thurstaston (1986–2004)
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 May 1986
Preceded by	Don McCubbin
Majority	1,680 (36.3%)
Leader of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
In office 13 February 2012 – 14 May 2012
Deputy	Simon Holbrook
Preceded by	Steve Foulkes[4]
Succeeded by	Phil Davies
In office 24 May 2010 – 16 May 2011
Deputy	Simon Holbrook
Preceded by	Steve Foulkes[2]
Succeeded by	Steve Foulkes[5]
Personal details
Born	Jeffrey Edwin Green 5 May 1957
Political party	Conservative
Children	2[6]
Residence	Irby, Wirral, UK[7]

Political career

Councillor

Green was first elected to Wirral Council in 1986 in the Tory safe seat of Thurstaston.[8] After boundary change in 2004, Thurstaston was abolished and Green was successfully re-elected to the new West Kirby and Thurstaston ward.[9][10]

Conservative Leader

In 2002, he succeeded John Hale as leader of the Conservative group, a role he held until 2017 when he lost a leadership challenge to Wallasey councillor Ian Lewis.[1]

Leader of Wirral Council

Green was first elected leader on the 24 May 2010 after forming an alliance with the Liberal Democrats branded a “Coalition of Losers.” by outgoing Labour leader Steve Foulkes.[2] Green's reign lasted less than a year before the Lib Dems withdrew their support citing that, after the 2011 election, “they were not given a mandate to continue running the council as part of a coalition.” and Labour's Steve Foulkes resumed office.[5]

After a Vote of no confidence in Steve Foulke's leadership on 13 February 2012, Green once again became council leader continuing until the Labour Party took control of the council at the 2012 election.[4] He was succeeded by Phil Davies.[11]

Anna Klonowski report

During his first stint as Leader, Green commissioned a report into claims of whistleblower Martin Morton, a former social services employee, who was bullied out of his job after revealing systematic financial abuse of vulnerable people in council care.[12] The report discovered that a “corrosive culture” existed within the authority in which the “abnormal has become commonplace.”[1]

Attempted smear campaign

In 2016, a £17,000 inquiry revealed that ex-Labour council leader Steve Foulkes had broken the council code of conduct and brought the council into disrepute over a leaked telephone conversation he had had with four whistleblowers.[13] Foulkes denied ever using the recording to “smear” Green.

Personal life

Green lives in Irby with his wife Carol, a local head teacher.[7][6] The couple have two daughters.

References

1. "Wirral Council Conservative group has a new leader - Jeff Green ousted after 15-year reign". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
2. "Conservative and Lib-Dem coalition is elected to run Wirral Council". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
3. "Jeff Green is Wirral Conservatives new leader". Wirral West and Wirral South Conservatives. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
4. "New Wirral council leader Jeff Green wants all-party cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
5. "Wirral Labour group is back in charge of council". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
6. "Jeff Green (West Kirby & Thurstaston including Caldy, Grange and Newton)". Wirral Conservatives. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
7. "Register of interests Councillor Jeff Green". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
8. "Wirral Metropolitan Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre.
9. "The Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003". legislation.gov.uk.
10. "Local election - 10 June 2004". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
11. "Wirral voters sent out 'clear message' says new council leader". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
12. "Anger as Tory councillor brands former Labour leader 'not fit to be Wirral's mayor'". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
13. "New scandal at Wirral Council after probe reveals 'smear attempt' on Tory leader". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 July 2018.