Party move Ex-conservative councillor joins Libdems
EX-CONSERVATIVE councillor Keith Rippington has officially joined the Liberal Democrats after resigning from his former party last month.
Mr Rippington, who represents the Bisley and Painswick ward in Stroud, quit the Tories last month following Boris Johnson’s decision to remove the whip from 21 Conservative MPS.
He has since sat as an Independent on Gloucestershire County Council, but has now decided to join the Liberal Democrat group today.
Mr Rippington said the Conservative party “bears no resemblance to the one I joined” more than half a century ago.
He said the best way he can serve his constituents is by joining “the one party that truly understands the perils of Brexit”.
Mr Rippington also said he believes in the Liberal Democrats’ efforts to “work across party lines for the good of the county”.
The move means there are now 15 Liberal Democrat councillors sitting in the county council.
He said: “I have been a supporter of the Conservatives for more than half a century, yet the party I look at now bears no resemblance to the one I joined.
“I have instead decided that the best way I can serve the residents of Bisley and Painswick is to join the one party that truly understands the perils of Brexit and that is standing up for the best interests of Gloucestershire’s citizens.
“I also believe in the Liberal Democrats’ message on the climate emergency, on youth engagement and working across party lines for the good of the county.
“I look forward to continuing to work for my electorate, focussing on the key issues that affect their daily lives.”
Commenting on Mr Rippington’s switch, Liberal Democrat leader Paul Hodgkinson said: “”We are delighted to be welcoming Keith to our party.
“It takes a brave and principled individual to walk away from something that has been a part of your life for so many years, and I applaud him for that.
“He is an incredibly hard working councillor, and will make an immediate impact within our group.
“We would welcome all councillors who similarly want to change the direction that this country is going, and ask them to join us to make Gloucestershire a more equal, greener place to live and work with top notch local services.”
After Mr Rippington resigned from the Conservative group last month at a full council meeting, said he had “given up” and “it’s very right wing”.
At the time of his resignation, council leader Mark Hawthorne said: “I’m sorry to hear of Mr Rippington’s decision to leave the Conservative group, which is solely on national issues.
“He has made it clear he will not be joining any other party, and I hope we can keep cooperating on matters that benefit local residents.”
It takes a brave individual to walk away from something that has been a part of your life for many years, and I applaud him for that.
Paul Hodgkinson