LIBERAL Democrat councillor Jo Crotty – who trailed in third when she stood as a Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South at the General Election in May – has quit as a borough councillor.
Her resignation will mean a by-election for the Bewsey and Whitecross ward on Thursday, December 9.
The result will be crucial for the Lib Dem/Conservative coalition which currently controls the borough council with a majority of only two.
Coun Crotty’s resignation ends months of speculation during which she failed to attend numerous council meetings.
She was again missing at the council meeting on Monday when, but for some absent Labour members, the coalition could have lost on two important votes because two other Liberal Democrat councillors abstained.
Since the General Election, Dr Crotty, a university professor with a PH. D. in Russian Economic Transition and Pollution Control and a first class honours degree in Business Studies, has been appointed to a new post at Salford University and has claimed this has resulted in difficulties attending meetings.
The Bewsey and Whitecross ward has traditionally been held by Labour prior to Dr Crotty winning it for the Liberal Dems by 111 votes in May 2008. Labour believe they can now win it back.
A parish council by-election will be held the same day following the resignation of Coun Liz Jewkes, who represented the St Thomas ward on Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Nominations may be submitted by prior appointment during office hours from today (Friday) until 12 noon on November 12.
Key by-election as Lib Dem quits
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
2 Comments
What’s the odds that the Tories don’t put up a candidate in Bewsey?
Grotty Crotty is obviously a firm believer of the phrases “silence is golden” and “absence makes the heart grow fonder” because she’s only attending around 2 council meetings and not attending any residents meetings. This is just not right…especially when all this time she has allegedly been claiming her full councillor allowance…some £8,000 p.a.!!!
Bewsey & Whitecross needs an active ward councillor who cares about local people…the LibDems have proved they don’t care otherwise the would have forced Grotty Crotty to work harder for local people. She hasn’t even attended any of the Arpley Landfill protest meetings!!!
Jo Grotty is a Brummy serial constituency chaser….. she was earmarked as a future high flyer by the Lib Dumbs but she made a complete hash of things at the recent election. Having ballot style boxes with her smiley face on them outside the voting stations was surely not the best idea of the campaign….. The famous “Flat of Convenience” in Bewsey will now be up for sale and Jo’s face will now start to appear in another Constituencys newspapers as she travels the country searching for the elusive MP’s salary and expenses that she appears to crave so much…..she can now travel the land with a sad, doe-eyed look on her face; pointing at dog poo on many more pavements and standing in front of development site hoardings alongside equally compliant local lib dumb councillors……….and always with the obligatory photographer on hand to capture the moment…… Bye Bye Crotty…..