Shepway Councillor Quits Conservatives

Sandgate Conservative Councillor Joy Macmillan has resigned from the Party in Shepway. Joy Macmillan announced she was to become an Independent councillor on Tuesday night following a Conservative group meeting. Shepway Liberal Democrat Councillors backed Joy Macmillan in her bid to remain as Deputy Chair of the Council for a second year, and praised her courage.

Joy Macmillan said that the coalition between the Party and the "People First" group led by Linda Cufley was "intolerable" and she would not be able to represent Sandgate effectively as a Conservative Councillor.

She said about the Conservative / People first administration:

"I have cringed in embarrassment at some of the things that have happened and have tolerated it for some time, but not any more."

At the Conservative group meeting on Tuesday, the Conservative group voted against allowing Councillor Macmillan to remain as Deputy Chair of the Council for a second year, and instead proposed Councillor Bunting in a closely balanced 8 to 7 vote.

At the full Shepway District Council meeting on Wednesday night, the Liberal Democrat group led by Lynne Beaumont proposed and supported Joy Macmillan as Deputy Chairman of the Council.

Lynne Beaumont, in proposing Joy Macmillan to continue for a second year, praised her courage in standing up for her views. The move was defeated by the votes of Conservative and People First Councillors, who proposed and elected Councillor Bunting.

Councillor Terry Preston was re-elected to serve a second year as Chairman of the Council.

Lynne Beaumont added:

"It's amazing to see Conservative Councillors fighting amongst themselves this way - there is clearly really bad feeling between them. It would be much better for Shepway if the in-fighting could stop and all Councillors could work constructively for the district."