Alresford Tory councillor defends independent claim (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Alresford Tory councillor defends independent claim

5:16pm Thursday 8th September 2011 in Politics

AN ALRESFORD town councillor who is a member of the Conservative party has defended her electoral claim to be ‘independent’.

Lisa Griffiths used the term on literature for the town council elections in May even though she is deputy chairman of the local Conservative branch.

A rival local politician, Robin Atkins, has complained to Winchester City Council saying voters would have been misled. But the council said Mrs Griffiths has done nothing illegal.

Another town councillor Natalie Carpenter, who also stood as an independent, said she is considering her position.

Mr Atkins said: “Voters would have been misled. She is not ‘independent’. It is a question of transparency.”

Ms Carpenter said: “I’m upset because I stood as an independent, as I’m fed up with party politics. She is not independent at all, she is a Conservative. The voters have been cheated.

“It’s a moral issue. She should follow her conscience. I’m waiting to see what position she does take. She has to explain herself.”

But Mrs Griffiths said that despite her party membership she would be a true independent and would not vote on party lines.

“I don’t think I have misled anyone. I wouldn’t kowtow to anyone because they are in the Conservative group. If I disagreed with what the Conservatives wanted, I would, because it is important for the town.”

She said she had openly canvassed with Ernie Jeffs for the Tories in the city council elections and had been a party member since last year.

Mrs Griffiths said Mr Atkins had not identified his membership of the Labour Party on the ballot paper.

Mr Atkins countered that neither he, nor Liberal Democrat city councillor Margot Power nor Conservative city councillor Barbara Jeffs had put their political party on the form. He said it was a different matter to actually state she was an independent.

Mrs Griffiths got 678 votes in the poll, ahead of Mr Atkins who garnered 479, not enough to be elected. Ms Carpenter polled 866, the fourth highest total.

Chris Ashcroft, head of democratic services at the city council, in a letter to Mr Atkins, said: “A parish candidate may chose to have a description of up to six words long, provided it cannot be confused with a registered political or minor party - or they can have no description at all. The description she used (‘Independent’) is permissible and not uncommon, so the returning officer is entitled to accept it at face value. Therefore, there has been no infringement of electoral law.”