More Conservative Party troubles in Bedfordshire

The disintegration of the Conservative group on Bedford Council has continued over the last week, with another two councillors deciding to quit. Of their 20 councillors, 10 have now either been deselected or decided to quit.

As the local paper reports:

One Tory insider said: “We hoped that following the new year things would settle down and we could regain some momentum, but unfortunately they have only got worse.

“There’s a real lack of focus locally and there are major concerns that we won’t be able to find enough candidates, to fight all the seats we need to.

“If things carry on as they are, we could go from being the largest group on the council to a small rump of barely eight councillors with very little say or influence.”

Another Tory said: “Our candidates and councillors are dropping like flies, morale is very low among the candidates and activists and there is a real sense of disillusionment with the weak and ineffective leadership at the top of the group.

“Things are likely to get much worse before they get better and I know of at least three more candidates who are very unhappy and considering whether it’s going to be worth standing or not. There is even talk that a senior member may be considering a high-profile defection to the Lib Dems.” [Bedfordshire on Sunday]

You can read details of some of the previous Conservative troubles in Bedfordshire here.