Local Liberal Demoncrat leader John Pugh has said that the resignations of Cllrs Jones and D’Albuquerque, along with the recent resignations of five Labour Councillors on Sefton, are a product of “an age of intolerance where politics is becoming more polarised and tribal.”
Cllrs Jones and D’Albuquerque this morning announced their intention to step down from the Sefton Conservative Group and instead sit as the “Southport Councillor Group”.
John Pugh, said: “The public might get the impression that it’s mayhem on Sefton Council with councillors moving places like a game of musical chairs.
“However, the truth is sadder than that.
“Sefton has struggled for years with dealing with differences of opinions between political groups, but it’s now struggling to accommodate differences within political groups.
“We are living through an age of intolerance where politics is becoming more polarised and tribal. I regret that.
“If any individual is out of step or questioning, they are pushed out or feel obliged to leave their party group.
“The truth is though that voters want councillors who exercise independent judgement and put their community before their party. Diversity of intelligent opinion is surely better than mindless sloganising.
“My group recognised that a while ago by reforming ourselves as the Liberal Democrat and Progressive Alliance Group to accommodate a range of members, but no one has to join us to work with us for the benefit of residents. “