Cupar resident a councillor... 400 miles away in Cambridge.

Cambridge member pledges to continue role from new home in Cupar

A councillor who moved 400 miles away from his constituents to a new home in Fife insists he can still represent the people of Cambridgeshire.

Donald Adey says he decided to leave the county because of Brexit and the right-wing nature of some individuals in England.

Mr Adey resigned from the Liberal Democrats on both the city and county councils in Trumpington before moving to Cupar at the end of February.

He now stands as an independent councillor for the ward which is home to around 9,000 people and is defying calls for him to step down.

Mr Adey, who will now face a seven-hour drive to work, said: “I am quite confident that I can well cover the needs of the constituents there by using the internet, phone, Skype and such things.

“I’m not the only councillor that lives outside Cambridgeshire. There are others. I think one even spends most of their time in Singapore.

“I decided to move away primarily because of Brexit and the right-wing nature of England. That was the biggest prompt.

“I will now stand as independent because it’s fairer than wearing a party label.”

He added: “Cambridge is lovely. I lived there for 30 years and I know the issues that are bubbling away there quite well.

“Moving away from the area doesn’t alter that knowledge level. I have been doing case work from here already.”

Mr Adey has been heavily criticised by fellow councillors from his former party.

A joint statement from Lib Dem leader of the Cambridge City and County councils called on Mr Adey to step down completely.

It read: “It is also appropriate for him to resign his seats on the two councils to enable residents to choose successors but he disagrees.

“We still hope that Councillor Adey thinks again and stands down but ultimately that is a matter for him.”

Meanwhile, Mr Adey heaped praise on his new home in north-east Fife where he now lives with his husband.

He said: “I came to visit Cupar twice and decided that it’s got the right feel to it because of the way people interact with you.

“People in Cupar give you the time of day and say hello as you walk past.”

It may be unorthodox, but who can blame Cambridge councillor Donald Adey for upping sticks and moving 400 miles away to Cupar? The former Lib Dem has fallen in love with the Fife town and insists he can still represent his ward, despite the sevenhour commute. The move hasn’t gone down well with fellow councillors but we wonder how many Courier Country voters would jump at the chance to send their local politicians to the other end of the country.

Fife switch – Donald Adey.