Second Tory Councillor Quits Party To Be An Independent

Published on: 30 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 31 Aug, 2018

Cllr Bob McShee

Cllr Bob McShee has announced this morning (August 30, 2018) that he has resigned from the Conservative party to become an Independent borough councillor for Worplesdon.

McShee was deselected as a candidate in July this year for reasons that have not been disclosed.

“Cllr McShee wrote: “I have today informed the Guildford Conservative Association that after much deliberation, as a result of my deselection for the 2019 election, that I have decided that I no longer wish to be a Conservative councillor with immediate effect.

“I will be issuing a statement later this morning.”

The resignation does not threaten the majority position of the Conservatives at GBC where the party standings are now: Conservatives 32, Liberal Democrats 9, Guildford Greenbelt Group 3, Labour 2 and Independents 2.

The news follows a Conservative borough council candidate selection meeting that was held last night in Jacobs Well and the resignation as a Conservative, in May, of Cllr Tony Rooth (Pilgrims), a former council leader.

At the selection meeting, chaired by the Guildford Conservative Association (GCA) chairman, Bob Hughes, and said to have been attended by ten party members plus the candidates.

Cllr Iseult Roche

According to a corroborated report, Iseult Roche, current ward councillor and GBC Executive member, surprisingly withdrew her candidature and was not present at the meeting. It was anticipated that she might have faced questions about her work as a ward councillor.

Another surprise was the selection of Dennis Paul, currently a ward councillor for Holy Trinity, a ward where the selection has been “called-in” by the GCA Executive. Cllr Paul lives in Worplesdon ward.

The other two candidates selected were: David Elms, currently a councillor for the ward, and Keith Witham the Surrey County Councillor for Worplesdon division. A fourth candidate, Gerry Lyttle, was unsuccessful.

David Elms, Dennis Paul and Keith Witham the three Conservative candidates selected to represent Worplesdon at next year’s borough elections.

GCA Chairman Bob Hughes said this morning: “The Worplesdon selection was completed last night and the branch has given a clear indication to the Executive Council of their preferences. The Executive will consider the recommendations at a meeting shortly in accordance with the rules for selection.”

“Cllr Bob McShee was at the meeting last night as a voting member of the party.”

As the number of members present was less than 15 it is understood that the GCA Executive could still “call-in” the selection but this is believed to be unlikely.

See also: Resigning Councillor Issues Statement Explaining His Decision to Quit

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