A SECOND high-profile Worcester Liberal Democrat member has defected to the Green Party – angry that his party had abandoned its principles.

Eddie Hartley, the former chairman of Worcester Liberal Democrats, made a very public exit at last weekend’s party conference in Birmingham.

He labelled the party’s coalition with the Conservatives an “unholy alliance” and tore up his membership card before openly following fellow ex-chairman Alex Keers and defecting to the Greens.

Mr Hartley said he felt the Liberal Democrats had crossed three “red lines” by compromising on proportional representation, nuclear power and Trident in order to form the new government which, for him, could not be crossed.

He said: “I think there’s a misunderstanding between policies and principles. You can change policies to meet the country’s needs, but not the principles.

“The more democratic edge will be uncomfortable, but the liberals are a bit overpragmatic in their approach.”

As reported in your Worcester News on Friday, Mr Keers has also defected to the Greens.

He said: “If they were still holding firm on some of the principles I think I could stomach the coalition.”

Mr Hartley now believes the Greens are the best party to represent his interests as “their red lines are not give-away-able”.

But the new chairman of Worcester Liberal Democrats Alasdair Wood is still standing behind the party’s decision.

He said: “Mr Hartley and Mr Keers are in a minority of people who feel this way.

“We have to be realistic and the Green Party have very unrealistic, pie in the sky policies. As members, we have to think with our heads and not just with our hearts.”

Sue Askin, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Worcester City Council, said despite the loss of two former chairmen, the party was stronger than ever.

She said: “More members have joined us during the election campaign. As far as the local party goes, we are in pretty great shape.”

Louis Stephen, leader of Worcester’s Green Party, said he was very pleased to have Mr Hartley on board and would encourage any other progressive liberals to sign up.

Mr Stephen said: “Unlike the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats have abandoned plans for proportional representation, abandoned their plans for scrapping university tuition fees and Trident.”