Fed-up Tory quits and may stand for Health Concern

THE Tories could be getting a taste of their own medicine after an outspoken district councillor vowed not to fight a party seat at this summer's elections - and maybe even stand for bitter rivals Health Concern.

In a twist to the spate of defections from Health Concern to the Conservatives, Wolverley councillor Nigel Addison said he was fed up with the party leadership and was ready to turn his back on the Tories after a lifetime of support.

He said he had been approached by Health Concern and was considering whether to stand for the party, which has lost three members to the Conservatives since last May's district elections.

The final straw came after Monday's county vote to shut Wolverley's Alexander Patterson Special School, Mr Addison said, where party leader Stephen Clee failed to speak against the plan.

He said he was outraged and suggested Mr Clee had kept mum so as not to rock the boat with the five Conservative councillors who voted for closure, at Monday's meeting of the cabinet at Worcestershire County Council.

Mr Clee could not vote on the issue but is an adviser to a Tory cabinet member.

Mr Addison said: "I do not want to be part of party politics which put our careers before the future of our children's education.

"I might be foolish, I might have ended my political career, but it is important to make a stand on this issue because I care about what happens to our schools."

He added: "My stong feeling is that Stephen is not the right person to lead the Conservatives when he has his finger in so many pies. He is mayor of Stourport, he is on Bewdley Town Council, Wyre Forest District Council and the county council. One has to question his loyalties because they could clearly conflict."

Mr Clee said he had met the five Conservative members of the cabinet before the meeting and impressed upon them, on behalf of Wyre Forest Conservatives, the need to keep the school open.

He told the Shuttle/Times & News: "We should have kept the school open as it is in a good location to cater for specialist educational needs. I am very disappointed that the cabinet have decided not to keep the school."

On cross-council membership, Mr Clee said: "I will stand wherever I wish to because I passionately believe in local government."

And he said Mr Addison had not "played in the team" since taking up his post and the prospect of him joining Health Concern was not a cause for concern.

"The Conservative Party moves on and we are bigger than one individual. Our ship moves forward. Health Concern has hit the rocks and if they want one of our lifebelts than that is up to them."

Health Concern leader Howard Martin said: "We would be happy to have Nigel on board. He is a very independently minded and hard-working councillor and just the sort of councillor that Health Concern would like."

He said the interest from Mr Addison showed the party was "on the up again" after the defections of Maureen Aston, Tony Hinton and June Salter to the Conservatives before Christmas.

Mr Addison, who said the Tories were still the best choice for national Government, pledged to continue as an independent until the June 10 election.

The 47-year-old stressed he might not stand at all but said he would be tempted to contest the Bewdley seat - the stronghold of Stephen Clee - if he decided to stay in politics.

Speaking about Health Concern, he added: "I would be the first to say I was very critical of Health Concern. However, they have been in control during very turbulent years and have actually managed far better than I thought they ever would."