Seaford Conservative councillor stands down

Today (Friday, August 14), The Conservative Party confirmed that Phil Boorman – a member of East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council – has left the party and resigned his council seats.

He has also resigned from his positions at Newhaven Town Council and Seaford Town Council.

Following his resignation, Mr Boorman posted a statement online saying he had chosen to resign in light of ‘an increasing level of harassment … which reached an intolerable degree’.

He said: “It is with a heavy heart and after much soul searching that I have decided, for the sake of my loving family, to step away from public life at the moment. I have therefore resigned as a Newhaven town councillor, Seaford town councillor, Lewes district councillor and East Sussex county councillor. 

“It has been an absolute joy and privilege to serve the good people of Newhaven and Seaford that I’ve had the privilege to represent. However, recently there has been an increasing level of harassment levelled at me and also my family which reached an intolerable degree, to which I was unable to fully focus on the job that I was elected to do.

“For that reason, I have decided it best to step back from roles in local government. 

“I would like to thank all those who have put their trust in me at the ballot box on several occasions and it was an honour to serve the communities that I represented and to try and do the best for all of the local residents in the areas in which I served.

“I wish my future elected successors the very best, and I am sure that they will do the best that they can for their elected areas respectively in due course.”

Cllr Isabelle Linington, the Conservative group leader at Lewes District Council, said: “I would like to thank Phil for all his work as a councillor and especially for representing the people of his Seaford Ward so diligently.”

Following this statement, a Conservative Party spokesman has clarified that Mr Boorman was suspended from the party prior to his resignation.

The spokesman said the decision to suspend was take following ‘allegations made on Facebook’ and complaints from residents.

Chairman of Lewes Constituency Conservative Association, Jane Slater said: “Given the serious nature of the alleged accusation against this member, Lewes Constituency Conservative Association took swift action and following an emergency meeting of the Association Management Team on 13th August we have taken the decision to suspend him from the Conservative Party pending a full investigation.”

He represented Seaford North at East Sussex and Seaford East at Lewes.

Following the resignation, Lib Dems vowed to continue to support Seaford residents.

Nazish Adil, a Seaford town councillor, said: “I am committed to providing a service to my residents who have been badly let down by the Conservative party.

“If residents in Seaford North have any issues or concerns about council matters, I encourage them to contact me and I will make sure that they get a quick response and will do whatever I can to help them.”

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