Jul 06 - Feetham Cites Personal Reasons As He Steps Down
Daniel Feetham has announced he will be stepping down from his role as the Leader of the Opposition for personal family reasons.
At a press conference held at the GSD headquarters this morning, Mr Feetham said he will remain as an MP and Roy Clinton will take on the role as interim leader until GSD leadership elections are held.
The news comes just a day after GSD MP Lawrence Llamas announced his resignation from the party.
An emotional Mr Feetham said: “After a lot of reflection and after a lot of thought, I have decided that I will be stepping down as Leader of the GSD.
“Paramount in my mind will be the issue of the succession of the GSD, and I have always wanted the best for the party, and I wanted to ensure that there was someone in the Parliamentary party who was perfectly capable to accept the challenge.
“Everybody knows that the last six years have not been an easy six years for me. At the end of 2010, my family and I went through an incident that had deep repercussions within my family…repercussions with scars that have not healed. And the reality is that in 2011 I should have chosen my family above my party, but I chose to stay because I believed, and the party leader at the time, told me that my party would stand a better chance at winning the 2011 elections with me than without me.”
He said the added pressure on his family life has been “unbearable”, saying it has not been fair on his wife, Julia, and children to go through what they have been going through. He said they must come first now.
Mr Feetham said taking over from Sir Peter Caruana as party leader after the GSD were in government for 16 years was a “colossal task”, adding that he had attempted to do so with “dignity and courage” and by holding the government to account under difficult circumstances.
Mr Feetham said he will work alongside the new leader for the next two years to ensure the GSD has the best possible slate for the next election, but was unsure whether he’d stand at the next election at this moment in time.
Reaction To Lawrence Llamas Resignation
Mr Feetham said the GSD decided to vote against an “incomplete budget” with “£772 million of money hidden away” in various government-owned companies before Budget Week.
He said that was a “courageous” decision knowing the criticism they would come under. Mr Feetham said he was willing to give Mr Llamas the benefit of the doubt after he claimed to be unaware of what was said at that meeting. He said it was only when Mr Llamas appeared on GBC and sent out a press release saying he was going to vote with the Government, that the GSD were made aware of his position.
Mr Feetham said: “The reality is that a decision was taken by every single MP except for Mr Llamas. On the day of the budget, after I had given my budget address, Mr Llamas came to me and said, and I quote: ‘Brilliant speech, se nota que eres un QC’.”
Mr Feetham said Mr Llamas had 48 hours to discuss his decision but hadn’t been in touch with any of his fellow MPs. Mr Feetham said he felt his authority was “seriously undermined by Mr Llamas’ decision”, knowing full well that he was stepping aside before issuing his public resignation.
Mr Feetham added: “For Mr Llamas to say he is resigning because of issues with me as party leader is dishonest to say the least.
“He has behaved in the most appalling, politically dishonest way, in my opinion, and I believe this has been carefully choreographed and stage managed in order to cause the GSD the maximum possible damage.”
Yesterday evening, Mr Feetham called for Mr Llamas to resign his seat in the house immediately on Twitter, and defended his statement today saying he was voted in on the GSD slate.
Serving the Community
Mr Feetham also said: “It has been an absolute privilege and an honour for me to serve the people of Gibraltar in different capacities over the last 18 years.”
He adds: “I am grateful to God and to the people of Gibraltar that they have entrusted me with these various roles over the past 18 years.
“Everything that I have done I have done to the best of my abilities and I have tried to discharge my duty in the various roles as well as I possibly could.”
His fellow MPs paid tribute to their former leader and recognised the work he has carried out over the past few years.
Interim Leader Roy Clinton said Mr Feetham has gone above and beyond his call of duty to the party, adding that his contribution to the GSD has been invaluable.
Elliott Phillips gave thanks to Mr Feetham for being an extremely strong leader, adding: “He has been a rock in the GSD for a number of years, and the GSD will be poorer without him at the helm and democracy will be poorer without him.”
Edwin Reyes said he has worked alongside Mr Feetham for the past 10 years, and said he has been a true leader and has led the party by example.
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