Councillor Michael Lilley has swapped his political allegiance (again) from the ruling Alliance Group to the Liberal Democrats after coming to realise that his beliefs and values are ‘firmly liberal’.
The Ryde Appley and Elmfield councillor began his adult life voting for the Lib Dems, but in 2016 he stood as a Green Party councillor in the local elections – only to resign 2 years later. Then, in 2021, he decided to stand as an independent candidate, before going on to join the Alliance Group. He also had a stint as a member of the 2-person 1957 Group.
Now, Councillor Lilley has gone full circle and is back supporting the Lib Dems.
65-year-old Lilley’s move evens up the political landscape at County Hall with there now being 16 Conservatives councillors, 16 Alliance councillors, 3 Lib Dems, 1 Labour councillor, 1 Independent Labour councillor, 1 Independent Conservative councillor – and Councillor Daryl Pitcher, for the Vectis Party. Earlier this week the Conservatives lost Councillor Peter Spink, dropping them a seat behind the Alliance Group.
In a statement, Cllr Lilley has said:
“After a deep reflection, I wish to announce that I am leaving the Alliance Group to join the Liberal Democrats. I stood as myself and under no political label as a local community activist in 2021 local elections and gained the largest majority on the Isle of Wight for Ryde Appley and Elmfield, my home.
“I felt the Alliance group fitted at the time to my beliefs and values and was the best place in the council to support the interests of my residents as a strong non-conservative candidate after being in opposition between 2017 and 2021.
“I am and always have been politically left of centre and never supported or voted for the Conservative Party. I started my adult life supporting Stephen Ross in 1974, who became the Island’s first Liberal MP since 1920s. I voted Liberal Democrat the majority of my life until moving to the Green Party, then Independent, to being myself as a community activist and now full circle at 65, back to where I started as an Island Liberal supporter.
Article continues below this advertisement “I wish to thank the Alliance and my local Ryde Appley and Elmfield community for helping me realise that my belief and values are firmly liberal. I consulted my residents at my most recent monthly ward meeting in May and residents unanimously voted my move to the Lib Dems.
“I will continue to serve Ryde Appley and Elmfield to my best abilities and continue to work with and listen to my residents and residents of Ryde and Isle of Wight.”
You can always trust someone who jumps ship to the highest bidder. Just shows we should have put more in our brown envelope for him.
Obviously a man of solid political convictions
who is he kidding, he can see which way the wind is blowing. And to keep his power changes his views. it is just like magic
Sounds like he has trouble working out where he stands on issues?
He’s a brilliant local politician that is prepared to move with the times in order to best suit his constituents. He’s always been a liberal and obviously now feels he can serve best by aligning himself to a bigger group that still reflects his long term political views – I think he should be commended.
Shaun, I agree 200% with you! I should think, like the rest of us he’s sick to death of the Alliance group.
“I am left of centre in belief”, so you are a labour supporter who would never get elected under that banner, hypocrite.
Why would you vote for someone who can ‘flip’ so easily… Stand by your convictions!
Local councillors shouldn’t need to be I any party.
If they just had a Not-Tory group, they would probably get on with things a lot better.
Doing that is immoral, the public who elected him probably did so because of the aims of his party so to just ” jump ship” should trigger a by election.
Fancy joining the Lib Dumbs. Yuck.
What a wally! Who cares what party he wants to be in this week. He should be representing local people on local issues and not be guided by the political views of people from other areas.
Well can’t say I’m surprised by any of the comments below, disappointing to see, I have lost all faith in him, time for a change I think
He obviously swings all ways not just both.
Never understand why they pretend to be lib dems/ green ???
You are either one or the other!!!!!
Even ruddy keir starmer, said he may join with lib dems, what did that do when tories joined in a supposed alliance???????!!!!.
Rats jumping ship should clear off ,,,,,,
You are either for the constitutes or out for yourself ??????
We await with baited breath (not)…