THE LEADER of the opposition on Swindon Council has blamed ‘political posturing’ for the removal of his post on the board of Forward Swindon – the latest company charged with redeveloping the town centre.

News of the Labour group leader, Coun Derique Montaut’s omission comes after a council announcement that the newly-formed company – made up from largely the same staff – would be taking over from New Swindon Company (NSC).

He said he believes the move has come about because of his scrutiny of the failing redevelopment, budget and wi-fi project.However, a council cabinet member has disagreed claiming it’s the new company’s structure that has been altered, nothing else.

Coun Montaut said: “Redevelopment is moving too slowly, meaning this is a time when all political parties need to be working together.

“Unfortunately the Conservatives are having leadership, wi-fi and redevelopment problems at the moment and there has been a concerted effort to undermine my position.

Coun Montaut also said he wants to call on council leader, Rod Bluh, to explain where £6.75m of public money poured into NSC by Government agencies over the past five years has gone.

His comments come months after North Swindon MP, Michael Wills, called on the NSC to release details of how the cash was spent.

Coun Phil Young, cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development, said Coun Montaut was not kicked off the board.

“He is and will be a member of the New Swindon Company’s board until that company comes to an end on March 31,” he said.

“The cabinet has decided that Forward Swindon’s board should be apolitical and it should be kept away from party-politics. The leader of the council, Rod Bluh, is not on the new board either so if Derique has been kicked off then so has Rod.

“From now on the only political board member will be the cabinet member for economic development. It will also have business people along with a community and cultural representative.”

Coun Bluh was unavailable for comment.