A newly elected county councillor's quit the Conservative party accusing his fellow Tories of intimidation.

Paul Greenall of Westhead claimed he had faced unacceptable pressure when he wanted to table a motion calling for the axeing of some of the allowances councillors can claim.

At yesterday afternoon’s full county council meeting he turned the spotlight on internal party politics in the ruling Conservative group saying: “Not only have I been advised if I speak out on this issue I will face consequences and the prospect of being removed from the Conservative group, but incredibly it was even suggested I should seek dispensation from the whip and party leader before I could speak on the matter,” adding he had “been approached even in the gents” before the meeting.

Coun Greenall, who represents West Lancashire East and is a former West Lancashire Mayor, told the Lancashire Evening Post: "I wanted to be a new voice in this council chamber, However if I allow myself to be suffocated by rules imposed on me by the Conservative group...I feel I have no option to resign the Tory whip and continue to serve this council as an independent.”

After the meeting the 50-year-old councillor, who has twice stood as a Conservative parliamentary candidate, said: “I feel I’ve not been treated with any respect at all....I have been Conservative since I was a teenager. I’m very upset.”

The councillor had hoped to persuade the council that councillors should not be able to claim travel and subsistence allowances as they were going to their normal “place of work”. He also maintained Council Tax payers should not fund allowances for political group whips and secretaries. Councillors voted to accept many of an independent panel’s recommendations on allowances, but declined a 1% increase.

Afterwards Tory group leader Coun Geoff Driver declined to comment on the defection, but along with Conservative group members he had applauded as Coun Greenall moved across the chamber to take a seat near Independent Fylde East councillor Liz Oades.

Approached in the gents' toilets? The mind boggles at the Conservative approach to whipping in the 21st century!
Well done Cllr Greenall.

Once a Tory always a Tory

Originally Posted by jester01

Once a Tory always a Tory

Hats off to Cllr Greenhall for standing by his principles and respect to him for putting the people he represents first before party politics and being whipped .

As for the quote ' once a Tory always a Tory ' - have a little look at members in other parties !

At least Cllr Greenhall appears to be representing residents, well done to him .

Oh dear, "once a Tory, always a Tory" - Jester why not go on and have a go at our MP Rosie Cooper "once a Liberal, always a Liberal" - Rosie was for years a Liberal Councillor in Liverpool even serving as Liverpool Liberal Mayor and fighting (unsuccessfully) two or three Parliamentary elections as a Liberal candidate for Liverpool/Merseyside constituencies. Then after jumping ship she was selected to fight the W.Lancs parliamentary constituency as a Labour candidate !