Ousted Tory defects to fight seat for Lib Dems
An ousted Tory councillor has crossed the floor to become a Liberal Democrat.
Aylestone councillor Nigel Porter will fight to keep his seat at May's local elections as a Liberal Democrat after being deselected by the Conservatives.
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He was kicked out of the party following claims he broke data protection laws by passing on a city council database to party members and the media.
Coun Porter strenuously denied he had broken any laws and insisted that the document – which listed all city council spending transactions – was not covered by the laws.
He claimed that he was forced out because of personality clashes with other members of the party, including group leader Ross Grant.
Coun Porter said: "I am the victim of a massive miscarriage of justice. The Conservative party in Leicester wanted me out and, in my view, has twisted the rules to get me out.
"The group is split and has become a rabble. But I've been a committed ward councillor for years and I want to continue that.
"As you can see from the coalition Government we currently have, there is a significant policy overlap between the Lib Dems and Conservatives.
"I have now become a member of the Lib Dems and will fight hard to retain my seat at May's election. I believe I can win and continue the good work I've done in Aylestone."
Councillor Grant insisted that the deselection was inevitable due to wider issues.
He said: "It's unfortunate but the group took the decision to deselect Nigel Porter because we believe he failed to live up to the standards expected of a Conservative councillor.
"His recent actions brought the issue to a head.
"We simply couldn't allow him to continue as a member of the council's Conservative group.
"It is up to the Lib Dems to decide what standards they expect from their council candidates."
At Thursday night's full council meeting, Coun Porter launched a scathing attack on his former group, branding them a "rabble" and saying that Coun Grant would not win the mayoral election, for which he is Tory candidate.
It received a standing ovation from many Labour councillors, including the full council cabinet.
Lib Dem councillor Parmjit Gill said: "I welcome Nigel to the party and look forward to working with him in the future."
14 Comments
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by Baz, Leicestershire
Wednesday, April 13 2011, 11:07PM
“Why don't you take action or complain if you were kick out for no reason? Or indeed was there a reason.”
by Hudson, Leicester
Saturday, April 02 2011, 7:55AM
“Speaking of slander, Cllr, Hudson, please note that nowhere did I suggest you had acted for personal gain. To suggest that I did so is certainly slanderous. You did pass on restricted information and if there are no criminal penalties for that, it's lucky for you.”
by Hudson, Leicester
Saturday, April 02 2011, 7:53AM
“Dear Cllr Porter: if indeed the paper you had was marked "for publication" then you are not guilty of a crime. No slander was involved as I wrote what I believed to be true. However, whatever the marking on the paper, the Data Protection Act was breached: personal information was included in that paper, without being anonymised to protect vulnerable people, of whom some have no capacity to object. That is FACT.
You are at the very least guilty of a serious error of judgement. And the Libdems should still hang their heads in shame - if only for accepting an incompetent.”
by Peter, Wigston
Monday, March 28 2011, 1:59PM
“"The piece is slanderous and factually inaccurate."
This is quite normal for Con clones, isn't it!”
by Nigel Porter, Leicester
Monday, March 28 2011, 12:27PM
“On the 20th of December 2010 I was given details of Council spending over £500.
The information was not marked Confidential and I was not told that the information was Confidential.
It was marked FOR PUBLICATION. Most right thinking people would think for publication meant FOR PUBLICATION.
Or was it a council typo/misprint and it should have read Private and Confidential? If so then that is clearly not my fault.
Regarding the comments ¿Personally I wonder why he is not being prosecuted¿. There is no offence.
The criminal offence of disclosing data relates to stolen data used for personal gain.
The author of the comments is alleging that I have committed a criminal offence. That I have stolen the data and disclosed the information for personal gain?
If so can the author of the comments please produce the evidence? The piece is slanderous and factually inaccurate.”
by kevin football mad short, leicester
Monday, March 28 2011, 11:51AM
“Hudson, according to what I've read on another blog, all paperwork that this councillor had was marked 'for publication' therefore if any personal data was given out then its LCC's staff that should be prosecuted.”
by Hudson, Leicester
Sunday, March 27 2011, 8:47AM
“As someone affected by his attempt to leak information covered by the Data Protection Act 1998 (he gave the media information that included the names of people receiving services from Leicester City Council, my son being one of them), he deserved what the Tories did to him. And the LibDems should hang their heads in shame for accepting him. Personally I wonder why he is not being prosecuted?”
by ratilal patel, leicester
Sunday, March 27 2011, 12:27AM
“Libdem is a political scrapyard most of them are Ex laubor or tory members.”
by Agitated, Beaumont Leys
Saturday, March 26 2011, 6:38PM
“And of course we all know about parmjit Gill's dodgy dealings and the claims of £689 per day in expenses whilst an MP............let's hope neither Aylestone or Stoneygate are folled, the man is a crook.”
by Dan, Leicestershire
Saturday, March 26 2011, 3:07PM
“Mixed messages from the Lib Dems in Leicester. Gary Hunt as Mayoral Condidate wants to distance himself from the coalition government. Nigel Porter wants to embrace the coalition government. Come on Lib Dems in Leicester tell us what your actual policy is. Are you for the coalition government. Yes or No”