Labour councillor switches to Liberal Democrats

Colin Ross reports on the story about Mike Dolman in Newcastle-under-Lyme:

Newcastle-under-Lyme Councillor, Mick Dolman, has resigned the Labour whip to join the Liberal Democrats. Mick, a former trades union organizer, sits for Chesterton Ward on the Borough Council.

Last year the Liberal Democrats Andrew Cooley won the ware in the local elections. Councillor Dolman and Councillor Cooley have already been working closely together on the Chesterton Neighbourhood Partnership to drive the regeneration of the area. The third seat is still represented by Labour, but Trevor Johnson looks set to make it three out of three on May 3rd by winning the seat from Labour.

Also news reaches me that former Handsworth (in Birmingham) Labour Councillor John Tyrrell has quit the party over a row over the imposition of candidates. In his resignation letter he said “Unfortunately it appears that paid officers take decision more and more frequently: decisions that should properly be taken by members of the party.”