A Reform councillor read from a script and laughed while struggling to answer questions in an awkward interview. James Walker-Gurley, a senior cabinet member at Nottinghamshire County Council, said he “no idea” about its relationship with a key partner and “doesn’t know” why a major roundabout needs improving.
Sharing a clip of the awkward interview online, the Tories’ Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I’m sure he’s a nice guy who cares. But this is Reform’s Cabinet Minister for Economic Development in Nottinghamshire. Would you trust him to run your public services?”
Video footage from the interview showed the councillor struggling to provide answers beyond what he has written on the pieces of paper he is holding.
Mr Walker-Gurley was one of 40 victorious Reform councillors in Nottinghamshire following the May 1 election.
Reform then selected him to be the cabinet member for economic development and asset management.
The role, which pays over £40,000 when including his allowance as a ward councillor, will see him focusing on economic growth and the delivery of major projects.
But the local politician struggled to give an answer when asked about one of those major projects – the scheme to upgrade the Ollerton Roundabout and the wider A614/A6097 corridor.
The councillor was asked during the interview what his priorities for Nottinghamshire would be, at which point he began reading a pre-prepared answer on the broader A614/A6097 scheme. When asked what the most important element would be for residents, Councillor Walker-Gurley says: “Ollerton Roundabout for sure.”
The cabinet member starts laughing when asked why and begins shaking his head before saying: “I don’t know, it just needs fixing.”
Councillor Walker-Gurley was also asked about how he would work with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
When asked what the relationship between a Reform-led county council and the EMCCA could look like moving forward, Cllr Walker-Gurley paused before responding: “I don’t know what to say to that.
“We’re just working closely with them.” He was then pressed on whether he thinks the relationship already developed between the two authorities is a good one.
In response, he said: “I have no idea, genuinely. I have no idea. I’ve not met with anyone from EMCCA yet, genuinely, so I have no idea.”
