‘Why I have rejoined Conservative Party’

AS MANY of your readers will know at the local elections in 2019 I was elected as an Independent candidate in the Leek East ward, for Leek Town and Staffordshire Moorlands District councils.

I had, a few months prior to that, resigned from the Conservative party, the reason being that as someone who passionately believed we should leave the European Community I was absolutely appalled at the manner in which the then Prime Minister, Theresa May was mis-handling the Brexit negotiations to such an extent that I believed she was trying to thwart the will of the people.

I have for the past three years represented all the constituents of Leek East to the very best of my ability as a truly Independent Town and District councillor.

Now however the situation and circumstances have changed, although Brexit is still not perfect or a totally acceptable done deal, under the leadership of Boris Johnson we have, and are still, moving in the right direction.

The government have worked hard despite many difficulties, not least the last two and a half years of the covid pandemic and now the current war in Ukraine, to take the United Kingdom forward as a truly independent sovereign nation.

Now with the recent changes, which readers of this newspaper will be aware of, that are now taking place locally, I have agreed to rejoin the Staffordshire Moorlands Conservative Association and once again become a part of the Conservative Group at the District Council.

This will not in any way change the way in which I represent my constituents on a daily basis.

It will however enable me to be a part of the exciting plans that as local Conservatives we wish to start implementing in the coming 12 months under a new, more open administration.

At the end of the next 12 months I will be deciding if I will be offering myself for re-election at the May 2023 local elections.

I genuinely believe that as a reinvigorated Conservative administration that will listen to the broader electorate, there will be much that we can do to make our town of Leek so much better.

The pandemic has been partially responsible for some of the problems we see locally, especially in the town centre and so we intend to start addressing these problems at the very earliest possible time and hope that you will see some obvious improvements very soon.

If anyone wishes to contact me with concerns or comments regarding Leek Town or the wider Staffordshire Moorlands I am always happy to listen. Please email me at Brian.johnson@staffsmoorlands. gov.uk.

Brian Johnson Town & District Councillor Leek East Ward