Tory Candidate Joins Andover Lib Dems

7.14.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 30th Sep 2007

Cllr Donald MacDonald, Peter Mather & Cllr Mike McGarry

Peter Mather, Tory candidate in the May 2007 local elections for St Mary's ward Test Valley Borough Council, has resigned from the Conservative party and joined the North West Hampshire Liberal Democrats.

Peter said he was pleased to join the Lib Dem team and should have done so sooner. He compared the hard work done by Lib Dem councillors both during the election and since with the lack of interest in local problems shown by the Andover Tories.

He was particularly impressed by the amount of work done by Cllr. Donald MacDonald in the ward. "Councillors should be available to help the residents of Andover when they are needed and not just turn up at Council meetings, which is what the Tories tend to do", Peter Mather said.

Welcoming the new member, Cllr. MacDonald said, "Peter has worked hard for the local community and will be an asset to the Lib Dem team. He is just one of a number of Tory supporters who are telling us the Conservatives have failed to live up to their election promises".

The Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr. Len Gates, said: "We are delighted to welcome Peter Mather to the team. His defection shows just how badly the Tories are doing right across North West Hants and will further aid our campaign in the Whitchurch by-election".