Former Tory Joins Independence Alliance at Borough Council

Published on: 26 Feb, 2019
Updated on: 28 Feb, 2019

Cllr Nils Christiansen

Former Conservative borough councillor Nils Christiansen (Holy Trinity) has decided to join the Independent Alliance on Guildford Borough Council, taking the alliance membership up to four, making it the third biggest group at GBC after the Conservatives and Lib Dems.

Cllr Tony Rooth, Alliance group leader at Guildford Borough Council, commended Nils Christiansen as an able and dedicated borough councillor, representing Holy Trinity ward.

Cllr Christiansen has been asked by The Dragon to reconfirm that he does not intend to stand for reelection in May. So far, no response has been received.

Cllr Rooth said: “Nils Christiansen’s leadership of the Place Making and Innovation EAB [Executive Advisory Board] has been exemplary, and he is a knowledgeable member of the Planning Committee, among other significant roles. Most importantly, Nils has always been an independent-minded councillor who is prepared to have a point of view and to speak his mind.

“He has had a real impact on the council over the last four years, albeit that he has proven a thorn in the side of the leadership. Examples of his independence include opposing the loss of representation for wards on the planning committee; opposing the large councillor pay rise immediately after the 2014 election; opposing the attempt to close public access to committee meetings; and consistently pushing for a planned approach to re-development of Guildford town centre.

Cllr Tony Rooth

“Nils has successfully secured adoption of health and wellbeing as a central objective of the council, and has played a key role in moving modal shift and air pollution higher up the council agenda as well as exposing the level of wasted expenditure on vanity projects like the “Pop Up Village”.

“On behalf of my colleagues in the Independent Alliance, I really welcome Nils into our group and I know he will make an excellent addition to the team.”

Nils Christiansen added: “I am delighted to join the Independent Alliance as this enables me to continue speaking freely on matters which are important to me and residents. Since members are all independent we are free to have differing views, but what unites us is that we are prepared to put in the hard work necessary to listen, understand, form an opinion, and then speak up and challenge where appropriate.

“Accountability and transparency are important in politics, and I look forward to continuing to press for this in GBC.”

See also: ‘Your Administration is Unaccountable’ Says Resigning Tory to Council Leader

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