What Town is Tory Working for? ask Lib Dems

9.10.00pm GMT Thu 12th Nov 2009

Bromley's Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride and Sam Webber, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bromley and Chislehurst, have criticised Bickley Conservative Councillor Gordon Jenkins after it emerged that he was now living in Eastbourne and leading the Tories campaigning on local issues in Sussex.

The two Liberal Democrats were sent a leaflet from Langney Conservatives in Eastbourne which states that Gordon Jenkins in "leading Langney Conservatives" despite the fact that he still represents Bickley Ward, chairs a Council Planning Committee and is entitled to his Bromley Council allowance of over £10 000 a year. He is also named on the Eastbourne Conservative's website as their Deputy Chair in charge of membership and fundraising.

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride said the Tories were, once again, abusing trust from local residents. "Just before the last set of local elections two Tory councillors moved away from the Borough but stayed on the Council. Now it is happening again. How can someone claim to be campaigning for an area in Sussex yet stay on Bromley Council and chair one of the Planning Committees?" he said.

Sam Webber, who is the Liberal Democrat PPC for Bromley and Chislehurst, said that Bickley is now getting a raw deal from its councillors. "We now have one councillor who has moved away to Sussex and another who has said publicly on his website that he is concentrating on winning a Parliamentary seat in Bexley. Bickley's residents deserve better from their councillors."