Sir Ron - things were not always that rosy!

 

Cllr Watson, affectionately referred to as ‘Sir Ron’ by colleagues and officers alike, has been honoured by the Mayor of Sefton Cllr June Burns and Leader of the Council, Cllr Marion Atkinson, to thank him for his decades of service.

Southport Councillor Sir Ron Watson CBE has served on Sefton Council since its inception half a century ago and had previously been a member of Southport Town Council before that!

Celebrations all around it seems. However, things have not always been quite so rosy for Sir Ron.

Back in 2014 the Liverpool Echo reported:

'A dossier, obtained by the Herald’s sister title The Liverpool Post, showed how Sir Ron and Cllr Byrom sent dozens of letters to leading political figures on each other’s behalf, seeking a peerage for Sir Ron and a CBE for Cllr Byrom. The file also included correspondence between the pair discussing the best way to secure the honours.'


https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/crosby-councillor-les-byrom-investigated-6958843

The media reported that emails leaked out showed the pair to be involved in 'lobbying for each other'.

Dukes Ward councillor Sir Ron apologised for his “error of judgement”.

Speaking to the Herald, he said: “I am in some difficulty over a file which goes back decades and which I do not recall in any detail, it is clear to me that from one or two selective quotations that have been featured with the benefit of hindsight there is one memo where I have clearly acted in an indiscreet and inappropriate manner in asking for information that I should have obtained from a different source"

At the time Southport Tory Cllr Terry Jones said:

“I feel that I have no choice but to seek immediate expulsion of Cllr Ron Watson as I believe his actions look bad on our association.”

Cllr Jones also advised the media that his party had sent letters to the Southport Hospital trust, where Sir Ron was the chairman, and to the Solicitors Regulation Authority board, on which he sat, calling for his expulsion from both bodies.

The CARES hospital campaign group also stated at that time:

“Sir Ron’s selfish actions have no place in a modern NHS Trust and do no favours to our town’s residents. CARES propose a vote of ‘No confidence’ in this man as NHS Chairman. He should now do the most honourable thing and resign from this trusted position as Chairman forthwith. “

Sir Ron was also the ONLY Sefton councillor who thought fracking was a good idea...

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/meet-only-sefton-councillor-who-15400023