Council leader criticises MP’s ‘synthetic theatrics’ over closure of bus service
30/03/2026
“If medals were handed out for dramatic Conservative gaslighting of the public, I suspect Ms Bool would have several gold medals under her belt already”
by Nadia Lincoln, Local Democracy Reporter
The leader of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has decried “synthetic theatrics” and accused the local MP of “gaslighting of the public” over the recent news of the closure of a community minibus service.
The Ability bus service, which offers transport in rural areas, announced earlier this month that it would stop its journeys in April. WNC has said that, having learned of its closure, it has taken “swift action” to explore other options to support residents and has engaged with other transport providers interested in taking on the minibuses.
Speaking to the full council chamber in his leader’s address on Thursday (March 26), Cllr Mark Arnull brought up the recent attention around the closure of the community transport service.
He said: “Over the past few weeks, the volume of noise has been quite impressive. You’d think Sarah Bool MP has discovered a new national sport called ‘blame the council’.
“If medals were handed out for dramatic Conservative gaslighting of the public, I suspect Ms Bool would have several gold medals under her belt already.
“Ms Bool’s synthetic theatrics remain stubbornly unmoved – the decision wasn’t the council’s, this wasn’t held by the council, and the questions and answers don’t sit with the council.
“While others have rushed to deliver punchy headlines, make rushed or synthetic videos on social media, or blamed this council, we have taken a less glamorous route, asking for evidence, following due process and protecting public money even when it isn’t fashionable to do so.
“Here’s what matters to the residents of West Northants – our focus, the Reform UK team’s focus, remains on securing accessible, reliable transport for the communities who depend on it.
“Not on scoring points, not on rewriting events and certainly not pretending the council crashed the bus it never drove.”
In response, the Conservative South Northants MP told the LDRS after the meeting: “I think it is very disappointing that the leader of the council has made a personal attack on me when I simply wrote to ask WNC about the engagement with the parishes mentioned in their statement – given at least 14 have advised my office that they have not had contact.
“This is such a serious issue for our residents. I simply want to work with them to find an alternative provision and it is a shame that the leader has taken this approach.”
In a letter shared publicly on her social media platform, Ms Bool wrote to Cllr Arnull on Wednesday, March 25, to express her disappointment that a meeting she had planned with him surrounding the council’s next steps on the closure of the service had been cancelled.
The letter also said she had wanted to raise the issue of some parish councils not yet being contacted about what they could do to work with WNC, as well as wider concerns from other community transport providers about future funding streams.
A council spokesperson said the meeting was a one-to-one session with the leader and that no meetings with officers had been cancelled, though they had recently engaged with Ms Bool on her request to discuss issues.
An update on the situation published by the council on Thursday, March 26, stated that WNC is coordinating an Expression of Interest process on behalf of the community to secure new providers for the routes or local demand that Ability previously covered.
It added that there would be a £172,000 funding pot for community transport grants across the authority, with an aim to increase the number of transport options available, especially in rural areas and places where there are no regular bus services. Community groups, faith groups, social enterprises, and town and parish councils have been encouraged to apply.
Cllr Richard Butler, cabinet member for highways, said: “Although Ability was not a council-run service and it was the company’s decision to cease trading, we fully understand the role it played in providing journeys for many residents in our communities and that they will understandably look to us for support, so we’ve been working hard with parishes and transport providers to explore solutions.
“It’s encouraging to see there has already been significant interest from potential providers and there is growing confidence of finding alternative support for those residents affected by Ability’s closure.”
The deadline for grant applications is 10am on 24 April 2026.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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