Councillor quits LibDems over 'point-scoring'

LIBERAL Democrat councillor Eric Armstrong has quit the party group on Rother to go independent.

Group leader Cllr Sue Prochak says she is disappointed but understands the difficulties of being a member of a minority group.

Cllr Armstrong's decision cuts the Liberal Democrat voice on Rother from eight to seven. There are now three Independents with three Labour and 25 Conservatives.

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Cllr Armstrong, who represents Old Town, told the Observer: "After a great deal of consideration, I have decided to resign from the Liberal Democrats, and become an Independent councillor and, thereby, 'span the political spectrum'.

"I feel that not only can I maintain my efforts on behalf of all the ward members who voted for me, but also appeal to others who previously may have found themselves politically compromised.

"I want to maintain my election pledges and help engender respect within the community, encourage regeneration of the Old Town, and continue to be positive about Bexhill and, as was recently said to me, 'to be a good councillor'.

"This has not been an easy decision, but I feel the right one."

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He added: "There has not been a major fall-out with the LibDems '“ but I just want to see things happen and not always be involved in scoring political points in chamber. I felt a little bit frustrated with the modus operandi of local politics .

"I felt that in fact shortly after being elected I was not seeing my future with the LibDems '“ but felt duty-bound to go along with them '“ I have no ill feeling towards the Libdems and generally their supporters are very pleasant.

"However, I feel that perhaps I was too much of a new broom for the old guard and I did not want to always attach a political agenda to everything I did."