Councillor lives 400 miles from families he represents
A COUNCILLOR has been dubbed ‘a blight on democracy’ after moving 400 miles from his constituency and becoming the only member of his authority not to take a pay cut.
Donald Adey, 67, left Cambridgeshire for Cupar, a seven-hour drive away, last year, sparking concerns he is unable to properly represent his 9,000 constituents.
Mr Adey had claimed he could resolve any local issues in Trumpington via the internet and telephone, despite living in Fife.
But the former Lib Dem has now further enraged his colleagues by being the only one among 61 Cambridgeshire county councillors who refused to give up 1.2 per cent of their pay.
Council leader Steve Count said: ‘He is a real blight on our whole democracy. How he can continue toclaim his allowances while pretending to represent people from almost 400 miles away is ridiculous.
‘We need the Government to make a change in the law so we can get rid of this parasite.’
Mr Adey, who is also a Cambridge City councillor, was forced to resign from the Lib Dems but can still claim expenses, including a basic allowance of £4,677 from the city council and more than £10,000 from the county council.
He is likely to lose his city council seat at the local elections in May but the next county council elections are not until 2021.
Mr Adey has previously said that he and his husband, Ray Carlos, moved to Fife ‘primarily because of Brexit and the Right-wing nature of England’, adding: ‘People in Cupar give you the time of day and say hello as you walk past.’
He did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.