News

LIBERAL GANE IN SHEPWAY

Cheriton Councillor Peter Gane has been welcomed back into the local Liberal Democrats following his decision to quit the People First Group over their decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives on the Council.

Cllr Gane said: "I feel like I am coming home. I deeply regret the events of last year and am glad to finally put them behind me. Like several members of the People First group I was never comfortable about being misled into leaving the Lib Dems, and the decision of Cllr Linda Cufley to join up with the Conservatives to run the Council was the final straw.

"Voters in Cheriton did not vote in three Liberal Democrat Councillors to have them back a Conservative Council - one that I feel is not going in the right direction for local people."

On his reasons for leaving the People First Group, Cllr Gane said: "I know I am not the only group member to have serious misgivings about going into coalition with the Conservatives. I was shocked at the way that group's leadership was so ready to ditch their principles in order to grab hold of power."

Lib Dem Chairman Cllr John Hughes said: "Peter has always been a good local Councillor who cares about local people. We are glad to have him back in our ranks. He realises that he was wrong to leave last year. He has taken a principled decision to leave the People First Group over their shocking decision to go into coalition with the Tories on the Council. I hope he will not be the last to take a similar path."