How strange to join this party

It is disappointing although not wholly unexpected to hear of Cllr Maurice Watson's defection from the Labour Party to the Conservative group.

Council leader Carl Maynard suggested that the political role some members of the Labour Party wanted Cllr Watson to carry out was making him feel ‘uneasy’.

From his recent voting record, Maurice appears to have a different view from pretty much all of the Labour Party!

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As an elected Labour councillor, it was naive of Maurice to believe that the Labour Party should not expect him to vote against unreasonable Tory policies that aim to damage the most vulnerable in society.

How strange for Maurice to now join the party of the three-line-whip.

Of course it takes much courage and a firm conviction of one’s principles and values to stand alone, a position where a councillor may find himself disliked – a position where it takes a real self-confidence and desire to stand up for your beliefs.

I am sure that many temptations and promises come a councillor’s way from the smooth talking opposition: mayorship, certain committee work, social events etc, but one must be not to be led away from one’s objectives.

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As a Labour councillor, Maurice has done a great deal of hard work for individual residents and for this reason I was happy to take on the role as his election agent: composing his election communications, and generally supporting him, which I continued to do.

Sadly Maurice did not have the foresight to first inform his long-standing Labour friends and supporters of his decision to transfer his loyalty to the Conservative group; I and my colleagues were informed of his decision through the local media.

Judith Meredith

De Moleyns Close

Bexhill

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