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Ben Walker quits South Gloucestershire Conservatives | Ben Walker quits South Gloucestershire Conservatives |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A South Gloucestershire councillor has quit the Conservative party claiming "bullies" had "smeared" his name. | A South Gloucestershire councillor has quit the Conservative party claiming "bullies" had "smeared" his name. |
Ben Walker said he could not be part of a party which "undermines members wishing to progress themselves". | |
In a letter to council members, he wrote: "I have been internally smeared, but will not be bullied." | In a letter to council members, he wrote: "I have been internally smeared, but will not be bullied." |
Bristol and South Gloucestershire Conservatives said Mr Walker, who is switching to UKIP, had let his constituents down. | |
'Continue to champion' | 'Continue to champion' |
"Internal individuals have made it their business to remove me from the party in fear of their positions, so I have decided to give them what they want; for now," his letter said. | "Internal individuals have made it their business to remove me from the party in fear of their positions, so I have decided to give them what they want; for now," his letter said. |
Two other reasons were given for his resignation - that he could not support the government's stance on the European Union or its "ill targeted" cuts. | Two other reasons were given for his resignation - that he could not support the government's stance on the European Union or its "ill targeted" cuts. |
Bristol and South Gloucestershire Conservatives said Mr Walker had "let down hundreds of Bradley Stoke residents" who had voted for a Conservative councillor only last year. | Bristol and South Gloucestershire Conservatives said Mr Walker had "let down hundreds of Bradley Stoke residents" who had voted for a Conservative councillor only last year. |
"The Conservative Party locally will continue to champion the needs and aspirations of the people of Bradley Stoke as it always has," the party added. | "The Conservative Party locally will continue to champion the needs and aspirations of the people of Bradley Stoke as it always has," the party added. |
Mr Walker was recently in the running to chair South Gloucestershire Council but said he had deferred this position. | Mr Walker was recently in the running to chair South Gloucestershire Council but said he had deferred this position. |
He is also a former mayor of Bradley Stoke; a position now held by his sister, 24-year-old Charlotte Walker, who is the youngest ever mayor of the town. | He is also a former mayor of Bradley Stoke; a position now held by his sister, 24-year-old Charlotte Walker, who is the youngest ever mayor of the town. |
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