A NEWLY-ELECTED councillor has been sacked from Copeland’s top committee for publically condemning plans for Whitehaven’s new community sports stadium in their present form.

Karl Connor’s expulsion from Copeland Council’s all-Labour policy-making Executive came only days after his resignation from the Whitehaven Rugby League Club’s board of directors.

Although he recently gave his views a late-night airing on the Haven fans forum, The Whitehaven News understands the 30-year-old has lost his place on Copeland’s Executive for having private discussions with the stadium’s Britain’s Energy Coast funders.

He tried to persuade them to think again and revise the stadium plans, which he claimed were not yet fit for purpose offering only space for 3,200 spectators.

Copeland Council and Whitehaven Rugby League Club are key players in the stadium development.

Both want it to go ahead as designed.

Council leader and Executive head Elaine Woodburn disapproved of the actions of Coun Connor, who represents the same ward as her in Egremont.

His earlier resignation from the Whitehaven RLFC board came only after club chairman Dick Raaz insisted he stand down.

Coun Connor felt there would be a conflict of interest between council and rugby league interests.

It is understood that Coun Woodburn asked him to resign from the policy-making Executive. He refused to do so and the sacking quickly followed.

Coun Connor was put on to the Executive soon after winning his seat in Egremont North in May’s borough elections. His role was strategic partnerships.

All Copeland councillors have been told by e-mail that he no longer has a place on the Executive but, at the same time, Coun Woodburn specifically asked the Labour councillors not to comment.

Asked to confirm the expulsion, she told The Whitehaven News: “I have no comment to make at all.”

But Tory group leader David Moore said: “It does seem an incredibly harsh decision to exclude a young and enthusiastic councillor from the Executive.

“He has only said what lots of other people, including myself, have been saying.

“Maybe the council chamber should have been the best place for him to say it in the circumstances but I am a great believer that if someone feels very strongly about something then the issue becomes bigger than politics.

“A councillor is duty bound to reflect the views of the community and if his personal views are also the views of some of the people who elected him to the council then he should have the flexibility and freedom to speak out.

“Looking in from the outside, Karl has a great deal of rugby knowledge as a director or ex-director of the Whitehaven club.”

Support also came from Distington councillor Brian Dixon, who some time ago resigned both from the Executive and the Labour group, choosing to represent his ward as an independent instead.

“No elected member should be put in a political straitjacket,” he declared.

Coun Dixon gave up his place on the Executive and later the Labour group, saying: “I have been subjected to intimidation.”

He said yesterday: “As far as I was concerned, the Executive was a closed shop.

“I applaud Karl Connor for speaking out for his beliefs.

“I resigned as a Labour councillor because I felt I could no longer serve my community to the best of my ability as certain detrimental things were happening.”

Coun Connor said yesterday: “My position in one issue placed me at odds with Elaine and the rest of the Exec.

“That position was unacceptable to Elaine and she felt she had no option but to remove me from the Exec. I recognise her right to make that decision.

“I have no comment to add other than that I wish Elaine and the Exec continued success.

“I will support her and the rest of the party as a ward councillor going forward.”