Town mayor is suspended from Lib Dems for 12 months
CHELTENHAM mayor Sandra Holliday has been suspended from the Liberal Democrats for 12 months due to a disciplinary matter.
This is the second time in recent years that the Cheltenham Borough councillor for St Marks has been suspended by her party. But the Lib Dems will not say what the current suspension relates to.
Conservative group leader Tim Harman (C, Park) said he found the situation “quite extraordinary”.
He said: “Although I can’t comment on the individual allegation, to bring the mayor of Cheltenham, who is the first citizen, into this when one case has already been heard and dismissed seems to be extreme.
“I think the matter needs to be resolved speedily and the Liberal Democrats as a group don’t seem to me to be coming out of this very well.”
Green Party parliamentary candidate for the town Daniel Wilson has asked why the Lib Dems are not informing the people of Cheltenham as to why the mayor has been suspended from their party.
“Is it because they are worried how they will be perceived by the public?,” he asked.
“If the matter is so serious should the mayor remain in office and continue to represent the people of St Marks as Councillor?
“We need those questions answered - the people of Cheltenham have a right to know and expect the highest standards of their elected officials.”
But People Against Bureaucracy group leader John Payne (PAB, Prestbury) said the issue was “a politically motivated campaign” against Councillor Holliday.
He said it was a “storm in a teacup” and his group was completely behind the mayor.
He said: “I’ve told Sandra on numerous occasions that she has the full support of the PAB group.
“It’s a purely politically motivated campaign and I’m not supportive of it.
“She was hauled before the standards committee about a year ago and they absolved her.
“I think it’s a storm in a teacup but some councillors are trying to make political points of it. There was overall support for her when she was made deputy mayor.
“There was a small group of councillors who were bent on not electing her. Long standing councillors spoke up for her and said this was a distraction that was not going to benefit anyone, she does a damned good job as mayor.
“PAB councillors do support her, and will continue to support her. No question about it.”
A Liberal Democrat Spokesperson said: “This member has been suspended from both the national and local party for twelve months. We do not comment further on disciplinary matters.”
Councillor Holliday has been approached for comment.
The current political makeup of Cheltenham Borough Council is 29 Liberal Democrats, six Conservatives, two People Against Bureaucracy, two Green and one non-aligned.