Lib Dem District Councillor Defects to Labour

Councillor Mark Binns, who was elected in a by-election in mid February 2013 as a Liberal Democrat, has choosen to defect to the Labour Party in the final few days of campaigning before the General and Local Elections - which will see him retire as a District Councillor.

Above: Labour Parliamentary Candidate for
Gainsborough, David Prescott, with Cllr. Mark
Binns (Gainsborough East Ward).

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Gainsborough, David Prescott, said he was:

"Proud to welcome West Lindsey Lib Dem Councillor Mark Binns to the Labour Party."

Leader of the Labour Group on West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Nigel Bowler (Gainsborough North) confirmed his defection simply saying:

"Yes he has."

Liberal Democrat Agent, Cllr. David Cotton (Saxilby), said:

"Mark Binns has had a leave of absence and is not standing for the District Council. I am not aware that anyone knew or had any prior knowledge of his moving to Labour.

"To be honest I think this is a non event and if the best that [Labour] can achieve in a defection it's not a great story or event."

However Cllr. Binns came in for criticism from a number of sources, noting his alleged poor health, his track record of attendance at both Gainsborough Town and West Lindsey District Councils since his election had been exceptionally low.

Roger Helmer's Defection: Man Overboard

Giles McNeill writes:

Anyone who knows Roger Helmer, knows that Roger was always firmly on the right-wing of the Conservative Party.  Roger’s view was clear on the European Union: Britian would be better off out.

When Roger was the guest speaker at the Nettleham & District Conservatives Annual Branch Dinner in 2008 he was preparing for re-election as a Conservative candidate in elections in 2009. We talked together for some time, even getting into the intricacies of the D'Hont Method used for the Election of European Parliamentarians from Britain and associated territories - which I found absolutely fascinating, and imagine would render most people bored senseless. Roger has a degree in Mathematics and so the number crunching may have appealed on an intellectual level if not as a satisfactory way of election individuals.

The saga of Roger’s resignation, which has led to his defection to the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), began last year when he indicated he wanted to resign to give his successor a chance to be run-in before the European Parliamentary Election scheduled for 2014.  As Roger writes, in an open letter to Conservative Party Members:

Giles McNeill (Left) with Roger Helmer
(Right), October 2008

“I have always argued that a parliamentarian who finds himself no longer able to support the Party should stand aside in favour of another Conservative, and I have roundly criticised former colleagues who failed to do so, like Bill Newton Dunn and Edward McMillan Scott.  But in this case, as you will be aware, I sought in good faith to do the honourable thing, and to resign in favour of the next-in-line Conservative, Rupert Matthews.  Indeed in October I announced my intention to resign at the end of 2011.  But that plan was frustrated by the deliberate obstinacy and recalcitrance of the Party Chairman.

“I wrote to Baroness Warsi in early January saying that I would not resign without a clear undertaking on the succession issue.  I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received.  In these circumstances I believe that I have fulfilled my obligation to the Party, so far as I am able, and I therefore withdraw my offer to resign.   I had made it clear to Baroness Warsi that I would not allow the stand-off to continue indefinitely, so I will now plan to serve out my current term until 2014.  

“By seeking to do what I took to be the decent thing, and offering to stand aside in favour of another Conservative, I hope at least that I shall retain the respect of Party members in the region.  They have selected and reselected me three times over the years, and I know that for the most part their views are closer to my own than to those of the Party leadership.”

Roger Helmer MEP Defects to UKIP

Roger Helmer MEP (Right) with the Leader of the United
Kingdom Independence Party, Nigel Farage MEP (Left)

Roger Helmer MEP has announced that he is leaving the Conservative Party and joining the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).  

Mr. Helmer has been an Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands region since 1999, having been re-elected in 2004 and again in 2009.  He has made his concerns over Conservative policy very public in recent months.  He made his announcement at UKIP’s Spring Conference in Skegness. Commenting on his decision, Mr. Helmer said:

“The fact is that UKIP represents the values and convictions of East Midlands Conservatives much better than Cameron’s Tory Party does.  I believe I can do a better job representing those views and interests as a member of UKIP than I could in the Tory Party.  The European project is collapsing before our eyes, yet the three main parties remain wedded to the Brussels dream.  UKIP is the only party which is ahead of the curve on this issue, and on other issues as well”.

In a letter to his former colleagues in the Conservative Party Mr. Helmer writes:

Lib Dems Lose Councillor To Labour in North East Lincolnshire

Cllr. Cliff Barber, Labour
(Freshney Ward)

Cllr. Cliff Barber, now Labour (Freshney Ward) has made the decision to defect from the Liberal Democrat group to Labour group on the North East Lincolnshire Council.

Cllr. Barber has said he felt it was in the best interests of the residents of his ward for him to serve them as a Labour member. It means that of the 42 elected members, the Conservative party continues to have the most seats, with fifteen.

The Conservatives had the most councillors with fifteen. The Liberal Democrats now have fourteen councillors, Labour now have twelve councillors and there is one Independent. However, after the local elections last year the Liberal Democrats took control with support from the Labour group.

Cllr. Barber, peaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, said:

"I have not rushed into this decision and have thought about it for a long time.

"I am one hundred percent for the community on my ward and I feel I have a better chance of helping them as a Labour member.

"I feel I will get more support from the Labour party and I have a better future with them.

"Local residents have said they will not vote for me in the future as a Liberal Democrat and I think nationally Nick Clegg has done huge damage."

Cllr. Barber, a councillor for two-and-a-half-years, will not be due for re-election until May 2012. He said he now wants to work with his fellow ward councillors on some 'fresh ideas'.

The Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Cllr. Andrew De Freitas, Liberal Democrat, said:

"I am surprised and slightly disappointed that he has seen it necessary to take this step.

"It is times like these when the loyalties of members are severely tested because we are part of a Coalition Government that has had to take drastic steps to address the national deficit.

"These are tough times, I admit and it is testing the loyalty of members of the Group. We have always accepted we run a minority administration. It will not change the situation significantly."

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Keith Brookes, Conservative, who now has the greatest number of councillors said:

"The situation will remain on the decency of the leaders of the other two groups. It will be up to them to see if we have some control or some part of control because we clearly deserve it.

"We had around 21,000 votes at the last elections and the Liberals got around 17,000. That should show the public that we should be the controlling group.

"But if we tried to force an election, that would prove expensive."

Michael Caine switches allegiance to Conservatives

British film actor Sir Michael Caine has abandoned his support of the Labour party and announced he will be voting Conservative at the next general election.

The seventy-six year old actor, a former Labour supporter, condemned the 'terrible state' that has been allowed to develop in Britain and said he planned to change his allegiance at the next election.

For his latest film, Harry Brown, about violence on Britain’s streets, Sir Michael spent time with a gang from a tough inner London estate, who were hired as extras.

"I'll probably vote Conservative. I mean, we're in a terrible state whichever way you look at it, socially, financially and politically, so just give the other guy a chance.

"I don't know what Cameron's going to do, but in the end you vote out of desperation. You just have to have someone new and see what happens."

The actor added that young troublemakers ought to be educated rather than sent to prison, and that there should be a return of technical colleges teaching practical skills.

Earlier this year, he bitterly criticised the government’s decision to raise the upper tax rate to 50p, saying he would leave the country if it went any higher.

He said in April:

"I will not pay the government more than I get. No way, ever.

"We’ve got three-and-a-half million layabouts laying about on benefits and I’m 76, getting up at 6am to go to work to keep them.

"Let’s get everybody back to work so we can save a couple of billion and cut tax, not keep sticking it on."

Spelman welcomes defection of Labour Councillor

Caroline Spelman has welcomed the former Labour Councillor Lindsey Cawrey to the Conservative Party.

The Lincoln City Councillor decided to defect to the Conservatives after becoming disillusioned with the Labour Party under Gordon Brown’s leadership.

She said,

“My decision was based on my inability to reconcile my conscience with the ‘leadership’ of Gordon Brown, the current Government’s lack of direction, its lack of positive leadership and its refusal to listen to the people of the country.”

Caroline, the Chairman of the Conservatives, described Lindsey as a “strongly committed” councillor, and praised her work on environmental matters.

“Local Government forms the backbone of our political campaigning operation and I am sure that Lindsey will make a valuable contribution to the campaign of our local candidate for Lincoln, Karl McCartney.”

Labour County Councillor Defects to Conservatives

Cllr. Lindsey Cawrey (member for Lincoln City’s Boultham Ward) has announced that she will join the Conservative Group on the County Council with immediate effect.

Speaking today Cllr. Lindsey Cawrey said:

“I have become disenchanted with the Labour government and I can no longer remain in the Labour Party that I have served for the past six years.

“It has taken many months to align my conscience with my actions, however, I regret to say that I no longer feel comfortable in a Party led by Gordon Brown. My decision was based on my inability to reconcile my conscience with the ‘leadership’ of Gordon Brown, the current government’s lack of direction, its lack of positive leadership and its refusal to listen to the people of the country.

“My ideals and principles are now more in-line with the Conservatism of David Cameron. Therefore, I have made the decision to join the Conservative Party from where I feel better able to serve the best interests of the people of Lincolnshire.

“I shall not be standing again in the County Council seat of Lincoln Boultham at the next County Council election in 2008.”

Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr. Martin Hill OBE, today commented:

“I warmly welcome Lindsey as a member of the Lincolnshire County Council Conservative Group. For a long period I have been impressed by her commitment to Lincolnshire, and, in particular, to environmental matters, as well as her effective chairing of the Scrutiny Development Committee.

“Like millions of people, Lindsey has become totally disillusioned by the Labour Party under the ‘leadership’ of Gordon Brown. It is to her great credit, that she has decided to have the courage of her convictions, and will not seek re-election in the County Council elections in June as a Labour candidate, but will be part of a winning Conservative Party.

“I know that this has been a challenging period for Lindsey, and she has considered her position very carefully, not least because she will have to resign as Scrutiny Committee Chairman. Lindsey has been a very effective ward representative for six years, and I know that this decision will not deflect her from that role in the short period before the next County Elections.

“I look forward very much to working with Lindsey to continue to safeguard the best interests of the people of Lincolnshire in these very difficult times.”

Karl McCartney, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Lincoln said:

“I am ecstatic that Lincoln now has a Conservative County Councillor representing the City of Lincoln’s interests. Obviously since the increase in Conservative votes in Lincoln since 2004, I fully expect that Cllr. Cawrey is the first of many Lincoln City Conservative County Councillors, as will be born out on County Council election night in 2009. Having met Lindsey, I look forward to working with her towards winning the next General Election, and welcome her as a Conservative Party member.”

Lincoln Conservative Association Chairman Mrs. Rachel Hubbard said:

“Membership of our Association is increasing all the time and we obviously welcome Lindsey as part of our team, I am sure she will make a valuable contribution.”