Master Mind? Or, Muppet Show?
The Man Behind The Punch & Judy Curtain...
📢 “Ladies and gentlemen, direct from the backstage corridors of Church Square House, Scunthorpe… presenting: Peter Thorpe — Featuring a cast of disappearing councillors, invisible FOI responses, and a stunning vanishing act from public accountability!”
Just when you thought things at North Lincolnshire Council couldn’t get more theatrical, along comes a plot twist straight out of Yes, Minister. Long-serving council insider Peter Thorpe quietly exited stage left… and barely anyone noticed.
In the previous article, a BBC News report, exposing uncounted votes, Peter Thorpe, the authority's returning officer, and North Lincs Councils’ chief executive said: “We do know this was a genuine mistake… We are working closely with the Electoral Commission to strengthen procedures and ensure all lessons are learned."
Then, two month later, he resigned, along with several colleagues, as documented in this BBC News report (click).
Rob Waltham reacts to the mass exodus from NLC leadership team with a shrug and a soundbite.
Because when your ship’s taking on water, the best move is clearly to wave cheerily from the wheelhouse.
That line — “people leave councils all the time” — is classic deflection spin; that's almost certainly Rob Waltham doing his best impression of Nothing To See Here, Move Along™.
That’s not a reassurance, that’s a shrug in a suit. And in the context of a “senior staff exodus”, it’s almost laughably dismissive. It’s the bureaucratic equivalent of a sitcom dad saying “I’ll fix it later” while the house is on fire. (spoiler: he didn’t)
Remember, dear Voters, this man wants to be your Mayor. He wants his grubby mitts on that £24 million - every year! And he’s climbing the Stairway to Peerage (isn’t that a song lyric?)!!!
🔍 Doin’ The Waltham Wiggle: Robs’ Top Five Evasive Manoeuvres
“It’s their business.”
Translation: Please don’t ask questions. I didn’t see anything. I was busy alphabetising my committee papers.
“Senior leadership teams change all the time.”
Right. And rats leave sinking ships all the time too. Nothing to see here, folks!
“To suggest the departure of a handful of officers… is a crisis is simply offensive...”
Translation: Classic misdirection — now you’re the bad guy for noticing the fire in the building. How dare you point out that the roof’s gone?
“Taking promotions or retiring...”
Translation: Promotions to… anywhere that isn’t here, apparently.
“Politicians set policy — that’s the law.”
Translation: Ah yes, the old “we just write the menu, it’s the chef’s fault if it’s inedible” defence.
So… who’s running the Punch & Judy show, now? Who’s writing the script? And who’s paying for the theatre?
Stay tuned — the curtain hasn’t fallen yet.
📄 BBC News articles:
Uncounted Votes:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65570851
Peter Thorpes’ resignation:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66478892
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👉 If you feel strongly about the issues raised in this article, then consider sending an e-mail to Crowle Town Council (clerk@crowleandealandcouncil.org) or North Lincolnshire Council (customerservice@northlincs.gov.uk) or even Councillor Julie Reed, (Cllr.juliereed@northlincs.gov.uk), and ask them why are residents being silenced?