Conservative Councillor For Overseal And Netherseal Suspended From Party - But Reason Remains A Mystery

A Conservative South Derbyshire councillor has been suspended from the party but will not say why.

It further extends Conservative departures which now total 10 councillors this year.

Cllr Amy Wheelton, Conservative member for the Seales Ward on South Derbyshire District Council, has been suspended and will sit as an independent Tory.

Seales Ward takes in Overseal, Netherseal and Coton in the Elms.

This comes days after six other South Derbyshire Conservative councillors resigned from the main group to sit as a separate group of independent Tories.

It also comes after three further South Derbyshire Tories resigned from the district council altogether.

This leaves control of the district council in the balance, with Labour forming the largest party.

If the Tories do not form an agreement to work and vote together then Labour would take control.

The make-up of the council is currently: Labour, 14 councillors; Conservatives, 12 councillors; and independent Conservatives, seven councillors.

Cllr Martyn Ford, leader of the South Derbyshire Conservative Group has now said that the six councillors now forming an independent group left over what was over a "difference of opinion" and "clash of personalities" with "no animosity".

He confirmed the main group and independents would be working together to run the council.

Cllr Amy Wheelton, elected last May, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that last Thursday (December 10) she received an email from the South Derbyshire Conservative Association chairman Christopher Pratt "which notified me I have been suspended from the Conservative Party".

She directed further questions on her suspension to Mr Pratt, saying: "Please be aware this suspension will not affect my work for the residents of Seales ward and South Derbyshire as I am now an Independent Conservative."

Mr Pratt said: "The association has taken the difficult decision to suspend a member. There is an ongoing process this remains confidential so that all sides are treated fairly. I'm sure you understand that I cannot give any further details.

"Regardless of this issue, it is important that residents are properly represented, and we work hard to support everyone, particularly businesses through this crisis.

"The Conservative group have been successful in keeping council tax low, improving local public services and most importantly supporting businesses and the most vulnerable people through this pandemic and they will continue to work hard and always do what is best for South Derbyshire."

He did not say how long Cllr Wheelton had been suspended for.

Cllr Ford said Cllr Wheelton had been suspended by the association, not the group, and did not say why.

Last week, Cllr David Angliss, Midway; Cllr Michael Dawson, Woodville; Cllr Martin Fitzpatrick, Melbourne; Cllr Andrew MacPherson, Willington & Findern; Cllr Dan Pegg, Linton; Cllr Andy Roberts, Hatton all resigned from the South Derbyshire Conservative group.

They have not said why.

Cllr Ford told the LDRS: "We had no issues around policy, there were issues within the group dynamic. The six felt better served outside, but obviously we will keep the relationship and maintain that.

"We will absolutely be working together to retain control, we talk on a regular basis.

"Everybody was in complete agreement on policy and everything we are doing, including the Brexit policy and how we are handling the district council response to Covid and housing policies and economic and environment policies.

"It was just a clash of personalities. As in any team you get differences of opinion. We are all still fully committed to taking the county and district forward to be the powerhouse of the county.

"If we can work together outside of the group and still deliver, that was the best way forward to go. There is no real animosity and was just a change of direction for the six.

"We are looking straight towards a formal working agreement."

Three further Conservatives resigned from the council completely earlier this year, Hilton Cllr Jason Whittenham in January, Hilton councillor Andy Billings in April and Seales councillor Andrew Brady in October. They have not explained why.

South Derbyshire District Council has been under Conservatvie Party control since 2007, preceded by 24 years under Labour between 1983 and 2007.

The authority was in no overall control between 1976 and 1983 and was held by Labour between 1973 and 1976.