‘Musical chairs’ taunt as Tory switches party
A B&NES councillor has defected from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats in a move derided as “musical chairs” by the Labour group.
Paul May, who represents Whitchurch Village and Pensford, is the third member of the council to switch parties recently.
In May last year Paul Myers left as Tory leader to sit as an independent, then Bath University scholar Dr Yukteshwar Kumar defected from the B&NES Liberal Democrats in December to later join the Conservatives.
Conservative group leader Vic Pritchard said: “If Paul May is not comfortable in the group he should go where he is comfortable.
“Paul didn’t say that he was leaving to join the Liberal Democrats and to do it late in the day is ill-timed. Surely these thoughts didn’t suddenly arise. A move of this magnitude has to have been calculated for some time.”
Kevin Guy. leader of the ruling Lib Dem group, said: “The local Tory party is complicit in supporting national policies designed to make the UK a poor nation with a few rich people in it.
“It will come as no surprise that sensible, thoughtful and long-standing Conservatives are joining the local Liberal Democrats to forge a better future for all.”
Cllr May, who voted Remain in the referendum and is a supporter of renewable energy where it aids local communities, said: “I’ve had really positive feedback from all my Liberal Democrat colleagues.
“There’s been no great big fallout. I’ve been working well with Tim Ball, the chair of strategic planning and with the Liberal Democrats for some time.
“I’ve recently been a chief executive of another authority and I want to use that experience in a positive way for the people of Bath and North East Somerset.
“Now I want to work within the administration rather than sitting on the outside and complaining afterwards.”
Bath Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said: “I would like to warmly welcome Cllr May to the Bath & North East Somerset Liberal Democrat family.
“Paul’s long record as a committed campaigner for his community fits well with our ethos as a listening party that works hard on behalf of residents.”
The opposition Labour Party made no secret that they were enjoying the show, but insisted that there was a serious point.
“I guess we’re wondering who will jump ship next,” said Labour group leader Robin Moss.
“It’s great that the Tory party seem to be playing musical chairs at the moment.
“A lot of us are sat in our deckchairs eating popcorn and watching the show fairly wide-eyed, but more seriously it isn’t good for democracy local or national that the Tory party is so shambolic at the moment.”