Liberal Democrat Guilty of Fondling Breasts

Adrian Heath (left) with Cllr. Reg Shore (Right) at the
opening of a new Dentists' Surgery in West Lindsey

Update to 'Liberal Democrat Dentist Cleared of Five Sexual Assault Charges', 'Lib Dem Dentist Denies Sexual Assault Charges As 'Bizarre' and 'Ridiculous'', 'Former Local Lib Dem Councillor 'Groped Breasts of Four Patients' Court Told', 'Dentist Facing Fresh Sexual Assault Charges In Court' and 'Three Charges of Sexual Assault Denied by Lib Dem'.

Dentist, Adrian Heath, has been kicked out of the profession by the General Dental Council following a week-long hearing in central London.

Mr. Heath, who was once a senior member of the Gainsborough Liberal Democrats, who won a by-election in March 2003 and joined colleagues on West Lindsey District Council, representing the Cherry Willingham Ward and was seen, by some, as a potential rival to Cllr. Reg Shore, and who was their Parliamentary candidate in the 2005 General Election, has been found guilty of having fondled the breasts of two patients.

Mr. Heath, who is now resident in Aspley, Nottinghamshire was cleared of sexual assault at a criminal trial in 2010, but a professional misconduct hearing decided the allegations were true after ruling his evidence ‘lacked credibility’.

Lincoln's Liberal Democrat Confirms Conservative Rule of City Council

Cllr. Mrs. Helen Heath

Cllr. Mrs. Helen Heath, Liberal Democrat (Carholme Ward) has decided to support the incumbent administration on Lincoln City Council, which means the authority remaining under Conservative Control, mirroring events nationally and the the formation of the Coalition Government. The Lincolnshire Echo reports her decision was based on a 'dissatisfaction' with Labour's previous reign of power.

Cllr. Mrs. Heath's announcement came at a meeting yesterday and prompted an outraged reply from Labour's Group Leader Cllr. Ric Metcalfe, Labour (Glebe Ward). He talked of Cllr. Mrs Heath now being the 'seventeenth member' of the Conservative Group, although Cllr. Mrs. Heath sits as a Liberal Democrat.

Cllr. Ric Metcalfe

The leader of the opposition at the City of Lincoln Council attacked the lone Liberal Democrat for showing 'breathtaking arrogance' after she backed the Conservatives at City Hall. Cllr.Metcalfe said:

"I have to say it's done nothing to enhance her claim of independence and to hear her trotting out nonsense on independence is laughable.

"She didn't come to the council until 2007, but claims we made mistakes which has led her to back the Tories. It speaks of breathtaking arrogance from her. Labour ran the council extremely competently for years and you can see the incompetence in the Conservatives.

"She is saying she will keep the Conservative administration at arm's length, however she seems to warmly embrace it."

The decision on the ruling administration had been left uncertain for nearly three weeks after the council had no overall control following the elections on Thursday, 6th May 2010. The public vote saw Conservative and Labour holding 16 seats apeice, after Labour gained two from the Conservatives.

Cllr. Metcalfe's anger may be a result that he did, in fact, win the election. The Labour Party gained two seats from the Conservatives and polled more votes. The Conservative recieved 14,277 which was almost a thousand votes less than Labour who recieved 15,220. The Liberal Democrats came third with 9,482.

Cllr. Mrs. Heath is reported to have said:

"My decision has been reached after consideration of local needs and has not been dictated by colleagues at Westminster.

"I am not satisfied that the previous Labour administration's management of the city's budget was robust enough during their time in office, nor am I satisfied they would be prepared to make the tough and even unpopular decisions that the current financial climate requires.

"I remain unconvinced the Labour group is sufficiently flexible or pragmatic enough to work effectively with either the new MP, or a Tory dominated county council."

The Lincolnshire Echo summerise her as saying that the Conservatives were 'more flexible' and that there is a better chance of getting her party's 'key priorities' delivered by supporting a Conservative-led authority.

Lib Dem Councillor is Kingmaker on Lincoln City Council

A single councillor holds the balance of power on the City of Lincoln Council, but a week after local elections Cllr. Mrs. Helen Heath, Liberal Democrat (Carholme Ward) is yet to decide how to use it.

The City of Lincoln Council poll last Thursday resulted in Conservatives and Labour having 16 seats each.

Despite the cordial relations developing in Westminster between Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg amd Prime Minister David Cameron with thier coalition government, Cllr. Mrs. Heath has told the Lincolnshire Echo that no-one was dictating her decision.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats told the paper that the party believes in 'localism and the right of locally elected representatives to make decisions'.

Cllr. Mrs. Heath is understood to be in talks with both Conservative and Labour groups. Whichever side she backs will in theory have the majority of the votes.

If she backs nobody, the Conservatives may still lead the next council as the new mayor, who is a Conservative Councillor, will have a casting vote.

The current deputy mayor, Cllr. Geoff Kirby, Conservative (Hartsholme Ward)  is set to be made mayor on Tuesday, 25th May 2010.

Cllr. Mrs. Heath told the Lincolnshire Echo:

"I am not looking for concessions and I won't be taking anyone's whip. I will essentially be taking an item by item approach. I am not prepared to make a decision at the moment."