Veteran’s hurt at Tory county election snub
He will oppose his own party at ballot box
LONG-SERVING councillor Jimmy Eaton has spoken of his hurt after failing to win the Conservative nomination to defend his county council seat.
He has opted to stand as an independent against the successful Conservative candidate Coun Margaret Pendlebury.
Coun Eaton, who has served as a Conservative councillor for 29 consecutive years, told the Free Press: “I’m very disappointed at what’s happened.
“I’ve worked very hard for the Conservatives and been loyal to them and at the end of the day I’m disappointed with how I’ve been treated.”
John Lowe, chairman of Rossendale & Darwen Conservative Association, said: “The process of approval and selection for candidates, within the Conservative Party, is in three stages, designed to ensure they are selected purely on merit and that we field the strongest team possible.
“We are grateful for the work Mr Eaton has done for Rossendale East and he has been assured there was nothing personal, or preconceived, in the approval panel decision.”
LO N G - S E RV I N G councillor Jimmy Eaton has spoken of his hurt after failing to win the Conservative nomination to defend his county council seat.
Candidate nominations have been confirmed for Rossendale Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, and Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner elections on May 6.
Coun Eaton, who remains a Greensclough councillor and has served for 29 consecutive years as a Conservative, is now awaiting a decision on his membership of the local group - after opting to stand as an independent against the chosen Conservative candidate Coun Margaret Pendlebury.
It comes after he was unsuccessful in the interview process with Rossendale & Darwen Conservatives.
Labour’s Coun Jackie Oakes and the Greens’ David Payne will also contest Rossendale East.
Coun Eaton, who has served at county hall for a total of 12 years over two stints, said: “I’m very disappointed at what’s happened. I felt this was a foregone conclusion and I’ve decided to stand independently and do my best.
“I’ve worked very hard for the Conservatives and been loyal to them, and at the end of the day I’m disappointed with how I’ve been treated.”
John Lowe, chairman of Rossendale & Darwen Conservative Association, said: “I am sorry that Mr Eaton is making an issue of this decision.
“He and I had correspondence on the matter in November of last year when he stated that he had accepted the outcome.
“The process of approval and selection for candidates, within the Conservative Party, is in three stages, designed to ensure they are selected purely on merit and that we field the strongest team possible.
“Mr Eaton was not approved by the panel and did not therefore progress to the next stage.
“I am confident that the candidates duly selected are the strongest possible to represent the residents of their Division at County level. Margaret is a first class councillor on RBC and will be an excellent advocate for her constituents at County when she is elected in May.
“We are grateful for the work Mr Eaton has done for Rossendale East and he has been assured there was nothing personal, or preconceived, in the approval panel decision.”
Rossendale Tory leader Coun Peter Steen said he was now “taking advice from the Conservative central office” on whether he should remove the borough council party whip from Coun Eaton, due to him standing against the party in the LCC polls.
Coun Steen, who is 73 this year, also confirmed he had himself decided not to stand again for county hall in 2021 due to his age and family commitments, but remained “fully committed” to focusing on his borough council duties.
There are 13 seats up for grabs in the Rossendale BC elections this year, with Labour’s Coun Andy MacNae switching from Hareholme ward to stand in the Stacksteads by-election. The by-election has been called due to the sudden death last month of Independent Terry HaslamJones. Mr MacNae will take on Conservative Hazel Steen in a straight two-way contest.
Lead group Labour has 19 seats to the Conservatives’ 13, with three ‘Others’, so the Tories will need to make gains if they are to take control of Futures Park for the first time in a decade.
There are also two Bury council seats up for grabs in North Manor ward, and one in Ramsbottom ward.
● ROSSENDALE BC election:
Cribden: FOXCROFT Jonathan Charles Laurence, Conservative and Unionist Party; ROOKE Gemma Charlotte, Labour Party; Eden: JOHNSON Janice Beverley, Labour Party; SMETHURST Bob, Conservative and Unionist Party; Facit & Shawforth: ALDRED Tom, Labour Party; SMITH Scott David Ian, Conservative and Unionist Party; WHITEHEAD Janet Marie, Independent; Goodshaw: FOXCROFT David Alexander Laurence, Conservative and Unionist Party; HAMER Christopher Daniel, Labour Party; Greenfield: LOOKER Neil Anthony, Labour and Co-Operative Party; ROBERTS Val, Independent; THOMPSON Laura-Beth, Conservative and Unionist Party; Greensclough: ASHWORTH Barbara Marion, Labour Party; SNOWDEN Andrew James, Conservative and Unionist Party; Hareholme: BARNES Samara Joy Valentine, Labour Party; LITTLER Matthew Thomas, Conservative and Unionist Party; Helmshore:
STANSFIELD David, Independent; TOWNSEND William Robert, Labour Party; WOODS Alan James, Conservative and Unionist Party; Irwell: BROGAN Daniel James, Green Party; SNOWDEN Caroline, Conservative and Unionist Party; WALMSLEY Andrew, Labour Party; Longholme: HUGHES Steve, Labour Party; OLIVER John David, Independent; WALTERS Mike, Conservative and Unionist Party; WHITE Julie, Green Party; Stacksteads: MACNAE Andrew Clive Mitchell, Labour Party; STEEN Hazel May, Conservative and Unionist Party; Whitewell: HANCOCK David James, Labour Party; PAYNE John David, Green Party; RIGBY Jenny, Conservative and Unionist Party; Worsley: ABDULLAH Mohammed, Conservative and Unionist Party; PROCTER Marilyn Winifred Anne, Labour and CoOperative Party
●● LCC election:
Mid-Rossendale: RIGBY Jenny, Conservative and Unionist Party; SERRIDGE Sean Joseph Michael, Labour and Co-Operative Party
Rossendale East: EATON Jimmy, Independent; OAKES Jackie, Labour Party; PAYNE John David, Green Party; PENDLEBURY Margaret Jane, Conservative and Unionist Party; Rossendale South: CHEETHAM Anne Cartner, Conservative and Unionist Party; MARRIOTT Patrick, Labour Party; WHITE Julie, Green Party; Rossendale West: BARNES Samara Joy Valentine, Labour Party; STANSFIELD David, Independent; THOMPSON Laura-Beth, Conservative and Unionist Party; Whitworth & Bacup: ASHWORTH Barbara Marion, Labour Party; BROGAN Daniel James, Green Party; NEAL Alan, Community First; SMITH Scott David Ian, Conservative and Unionist Party.
●● BURY Council
North Manor: ARTHUR Ewan (Liberal Democrats); BROWN Roger (Conservative Party); CLARKE Helen (Labour Party); DEAN Liam (Conservative Party); HEATH Mary (Green Party); SAUNDERS Euan (Labour Party)
Ramsbottom: PILKINGTON Tom (Labour Party); ROYDE Jacob (Liberal Democrats); SCHOFIELD Ian (Conservative Party).