St Neots Lib Dem chair to step down after ‘disillusionment’ with party
THE chairman of the St Neots branch of the Liberal Democrats has stepped down after becoming disillusioned with the party.
THE chairman of the St Neots branch of the Liberal Democrats has stepped down after becoming disillusioned with the party.
Julia Hayward, 44, who has served on both Huntingdonshire District and St Neots Town Council, told The Hunts Post her decision to resign and leave the party was not taken lightly.
She said, in a letter to members of the Huntingdonshire Lib Dem Executive, that her “personal convictions have diverged from the direction of the party as a whole” and added it would be “hypocritical” to remain a member.
Ms Hayward was an active member of the Huntingdonshire branch of the Liberal Democrats for 12 years, serving on the town council between 2003 and 2011 with former mayor Gordon Thorpe.
Mr Thorpe said: “I am very sad to see Julia go because she has been a total stalwart. You never know, she may return.”
Ms Hayward said policies being adopted by the Coalition – most notably the Health and Social Care bill, the Welfare Reform bill and changes to restrict Legal Aid for the most vulnerable – were among the factors which led to her departure. She added there was “no way to reconcile” this conflict with her own beliefs.
Most Read
- 1 Cambridgeshire zoo 'devastated' following death of white Bengal tiger
- 2 EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt ‘to work at restaurant in Cambridgeshire’
- 3 MBR Acres releases image of graffiti message
- 4 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 5 Superintendent dons rainbow helmet against hate crime on #IDAHOBIT
- 6 Huntingdon thief jailed after stealing watch, iPod and iPhone from vehicles
- 7 Work starts on affordable 56-home development in Huntingdon
- 8 Iceland offers over 60s discount on shopping bill every week
- 9 Silent protest at Camp Beagle as vans leave the site
- 10 Family pay tribute to brothers, 13 and 17, killed in horror BMW crash
Ms Hayward says she has no intention of joining any other party at this time.