An interview with Cllr Sam Murray, of Whitton and Whitehouse electoral division, who has called for resignations from within her own party (Conservative) following Tuesday's damning Ofsted and CQC report into SEND failings at Suffolk County Council. Credit: Joao Santos
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00:00 We had a briefing, I didn't even just go home crying, I cried in front of all the colleagues that bothered to turn up to the briefing.
00:08 I broke down.
00:10 And I basically begged them to understand that we're humans, these aren't just emails we get in, these are families like mine.
00:22 And I said I can't keep doing this.
00:26 There used to be a point in politics where we did the right thing and if things weren't working, politicians resigned.
00:34 And I've said that privately to the leadership and I've waited a few days.
00:40 So when you asked me that a few days ago, I thought I'm going to give these people the benefit of the doubt because they are my colleagues and some of my friends.
00:48 Now is, you know, I can't do it anymore.
00:52 Disability is my life, you know, I've got a disability myself.
00:58 I was a child carer to a mum who's disabled and I've got two quirky children that have been massively let down by the system.
01:06 My son had a diagnosis of four and that was hell for us.
01:10 It took two years to try and get to that stage where we were treated like we were the worst parents in the world.
01:16 It destroyed my marriage and only now at the age of 11 has he got an EHCP.
01:24 And now my daughter has shown signs that she's got some quirks about her as well.
01:28 You know, I had to do double mediation with the council last year because we were rejected.
01:34 And I've had to go through all of this now as a single parent whilst trying to navigate around a world that isn't always disabled friendly and represent a council which is letting down families like mine.
01:50 It has been hell for me the last three years, but I did this so that I could make a difference.
01:55 And I feel disgusting because we haven't made that difference. I'm sorry.