Senior Tory Councillor defects to the Liberal Democrats

4.21.28pm GMT Mon 7th Feb 2005

In a shock move today Worcestershire County Councillor, Mrs. Joy Bushby MBE, announced that she was to resign from the Conservative Party and defect to the Liberal Democrats.

Councillor Bushby, who represents Woodvale ward of North Worcestershire has been a Conservative for 35 years and was awarded her MBE for her services to politics and industry during the 1980s.

Her move was inspired as much by national politics as local council problems. She said "I have been considering this move for a long time. While Blair took us into an illegal war in Iraq, the Tories were far from blameless. Indeed the vast majority of Conservatives voted in favour of fighting. The Liberal Democrats seemed to be the lone voice of reason against the war."

Councillor Bushby further said "Michael Howard's latest service-slashing budget was the last straw. Not only is this a deeply unrealistic option, it is a brash attempt to buy votes from the rich at the expense of the needy. The Liberal Democrat pre-manifesto is the most sensible political statement I have read for a long time, offering real-world solutions that are viable, down-to-earth, and properly costed."

On a more local level, Councillor Bushby's ward is situated in the much publicised trouble-stricken Bromsgrove District Council, where the near-failing council is in voluntary engagement to resolve issues such as financial problems and poor communication.

Councillor Bushby has played a key role in preventing a potentially disastrous alteration in the running of Chadsgrove School. Chadsgrove Special School is for children with severe physical disabilities. Councillor Bushby commenting on the situation said "Yet again I am working against a council of Tories who are determined to reduce costs, despite the terrible impact it will have on local families with disabled children. I am sick of working in a political environment where the powers that be seem to have lost sight of what really matters"

Leader of Worcestershire County Council Liberal Democrats, Liz Tucker said "We have been talking with Joy for several months now, and we are delighted to welcome her. Joy is a hard-working, valuable and highly-respected member of the community. The Tory loss is very much a Lib Dem gain."