Turmoil as independent group splits
FALL-OUT from the local elections continues with Cheshire East’s Independent movement itself now splitting into factions.
The group now has 19 councillors following this month’s vote and has formed a coalition with Labour, who have 25, to take control.
But only 16 have supported the move with two, one each from Tytherington and Disley, forming their own new group.
Councillor Lloyd Roberts and Coun Brendan Murphy have now called
themselves the ‘Real Independent Group’.
Another - Julie Smith, member for Handforth - will sit on the council without allegiance to either of these two groups. She said: “I don’t understand it - you are either independent or part of a group. This is what I can’t get my head around. I stood as an independent for Handforth and that is how I am going to stay.
“I don’t want to be involved with any other group being told how to vote and I don’t want anyone thinking that they can influence my decisions.”
Cheshire East Council members will vote on whether to approve the Labour- Independent Group cabinet, with Labour’s Coun Sam Corcoran as leader, on Wednesday, May 22.
Coun Quentin Abel, one of the 16 Independents part of the coalition, said: “This is an interim process before we move away from the cabinet system and we have tried to be as fair as possible so that the Conservative group has oversight of everything.
“We must be as open and transparent as possible. As much as I would love to say we will make changes instantly, by definition we have to work together to achieve change over time.
“If you don’t work together then nothing can change and nothing can move forward.”