Conservative County Councillors Calling Time Ahead of May Poll
Senior Tories quit as election nears
Close to 30 Conservative county councillors will not be standing for re-election in May, it has emerged.
The party is currently in control with what - on paper - appears to be a comfortable majority. It has 57 councillors, while Labour has six, the Liberal Democrats also on six and the Green party on five.
The Reform party has three, the same number as independents.
Conservatives who are calling time on their political careers include both current and previous members of the cabinet, the key decision-making body.
The most senior councillor standing aside is deputy leader Peter Oakford, who was first elected to the council in 2013 for the Tunbridge Wells North division.
He has had to oversee far-reaching budget cuts that at one stage led to predictions that the authority would have to declare itself bankrupt.
The party is facing a difficult election with Nigel Farage’s Reform party posing a particular challenge.
In a possible sign of the election battle ahead, the Reform party won a recent by-election in Dartford, where it took the division previously held by an independent at Dartford council and Kent County Council.
And a former Ashford Conservative Dirk Ross, elected in 2021 has recently switched to the Reform party.
Several cabinet members, along with deputy cabinet members are among those leaving. Derek Murphy, cabinet member for economic development and a member of Dover council, along with his deputy Cllr James McInroy, are both quitting.
Also standing down is long-serving Gary Cooke, who has represented Maidstone South East since 2009.
Former cabinet member Cllr Susan Carey is not standing for re-election for the Elham Valley division. She quit her cabinet role last year in a row over proposals to cut opening hours at some waste tips and close others.
Cllr Alan Marsh, who represents Herne Bay and Sturry, is to stand down. He faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour and was suspended for 21 days during an investigation into the claims.
He was told to receive training after complaints that he had behaved in a way which made committee staff uncomfortable. He later had the whip restored.
Prominent backbenchers who are standing down include Cllr Mike Hill, who has represented Tenterden since 2005 and Sarah Hohler, who has also represented KCC over the same period.
While many Conservatives are not standing again, the party is likely to have a full slate of candidates for the poll on May 1.
ANALYSIS
There is always an element of churn as elections loom. So it would be wrong to say that the number of Conservatives quitting is a case of the ruling party running for the hills to escape the Reform party.
Many councillors quit as they fear the writing on the wall is on the wall and they don’t want to be humiliated by a fledgling rival.
But others may - actually do - have other priorities and they feel that they may not be able to fulfil their duties as a councillor at the same time as holding down a job or looking after a family member or young children.
Or they may simply decide that they do not want to commit to another four year spell.
Yes, the Reform party is certainly causing some anxiety among the Tories but whether Nigel Farage can lead his new party to outright success is another matter.