Council leader rules out calling for rape-charged councillor to resign

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 23:02 · Archive

Hampshire County Council leader Nick Adams-King has ruled out calling for the resignation of councillor George Madgwick, who has been charged with 35 offences including 12 counts of rape.

The leader of Hampshire County Council, Conservative Nick Adams-King, has ruled out calling for the resignation of councillor George Madgwick, who has been charged with 35 offences including 12 counts of rape. Madgwick denies the charges. The Green Party in Portsmouth and Havant has called for his resignation, prompting Adams-King's clarification on the Conservative position.

Madgwick, 37, currently sits on Hampshire County Council as an unaffiliated member and on Portsmouth City Council as non-aligned. Reform UK suspended him immediately after the charges were announced and he resigned as leader of the Reform group at the county council, though he remains an unaffiliated county councillor.

Asked whether he or the Conservatives would call on Madgwick to resign, Adams-King said: 'I don't think that's for us to do.' He said it was a decision for Madgwick himself to make, taking account of his responsibilities to those who elected him.

Adams-King cited 'a principle about somebody being innocent until they're proven guilty'. He acknowledged that 'the allegations are extremely serious, and those who have come forward to make them deserve compassion, dignity and support throughout the legal process'.

Adams-King added that Madgwick 'needs to consider carefully whether he feels able to serve all his constituents fully and fulfil his responsibilities as an elected representative while also defending himself against the charges he faces'. He said he could not answer whether it was possible to reconcile these demands.

Madgwick is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 25 November.

How it is being reported

• Hampshire County Council leader rules out calling on George Madgwick to resign after rape charges are broughtCllr George Madgwick has been charged with 35 offences including 12 counts of rapeThe News, Portsmouth · 13 Nov, 17:19
• Council leader rules out calling for rape accused's resignationThe leader of Hampshire County Council has ruled out calling for the resignation of a councillor charged with rape. Conservative leader Nick Adams-King has said it was not for his party to call on Cllr George Madgwick to resign after the suspended Reform UK politician was charged with 35 offences…Basingstoke Gazette · 13 Nov, 16:36
• Council leader rules out calling for rape accused's resignationThe leader of Hampshire County Council has ruled out calling for the resignation of a councillor charged with rape. Conservative leader Nick Adams-King has said it was not for his party to call on Cllr George Madgwick to resign after the suspended Reform UK politician was charged with 35 offences…Romsey Advertiser · 13 Nov, 16:36
• Council leader rules out calling for rape accused's resignationThe leader of Hampshire County Council has ruled out calling for the resignation of a councillor charged with rape. Conservative leader Nick Adams-King has said it was not for his party to call on Cllr George Madgwick to resign after the suspended Reform UK politician was charged with 35 offences…Andover Advertiser · 13 Nov, 16:36

In this story: Nick Adams-King · George Madgwick · Hampshire County Council · Reform UK · Green Party · Portsmouth · Havant

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