Monday, March 13, 2006

Another LibDem Defection?

ConservativeHome reports that the Deputy Leader of Salford LibDem Councillors is poised to join the Conservatives. From today's Manchester Evening News...

THE deputy leader of Salford's Liberal Democrats is stepping down - and has admitted he could be tempted to join the Conservatives under David Cameron's leadership. Coun Tim Perkins, who has a reputation for being outspoken and robust in council debates, will not stand for re-election in May. He had been tipped as a possible future leader of the Liberal Democrats in Salford. He said: "I think the Lib Dems have had a period of drift nationally and I would like to see how things develop." He admitted that his Liberal Democrat party membership had lapsed and he had no plans to renew it. "I've been impressed with the new regime of the Conservative Party under David Cameron and I will be watching to see how effective they are," he said. Asked if he might come back into politics with a new look Conservative Party, he said: "I would not rule that out". Coun Perkins was elected in Claremont ward in 2002 and re-elected in 2004. He stood as a parliamentary candidate in Bolton North East in 2001 and against Education Minister, Ruth Kelly in Bolton West, last year.

So come on LibDems, tell us why this guy is an insignificant nobody who the LibDems never really wanted anyway!

6 comments:

SamuelCoates said...

This follows Adrian Graves in January (twice PPC for Suffolk West)

Paul Evans said...

I would have thought this story from ConHome would be of far more interest to you Iain.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=16807122%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=exclusive%2d%2dcameron%2dcash%2dquiz-name_page.html

Bob Piper said...

So... councillor for the next six weeks leaves lib dems to join tories, but he is not standing again in May. Not a very big defection really, is it?

Inamicus said...

Because he's an ex Conservative who defected to the Lib Dems via the Pro-Euro Conservative Party (remember them?)

Anonymous said...

This guy is an insignificant nobody who the we never really wanted anyway

Inamicus said...

Perkins was a member of the Pro-Euro Conservative Party and came across to the Lib Dems around 99/00; it would seem to be a case of returning whence he came.