Councillor Richard Hall, a Lib Dem County Councillor for North Yorkshire has resigned from his Party and will sit an an Independent. His resignation was prompted by a demand from his party that he hand over 10% of his basic allowances to Party funds, along with the other councillors in his group. Hall, who has been a Parliamentary candidate for the Party twice, says the demand is "arrogant and dictatorial."
Of course other parties also often ask councillors to make some contributions to Party funds although 10% of allowances sounds on the high side. Somebody has to pay for election campaigns. Is it reasonable that the beneficiaries should be expected to make a contribution? Or does Cllr Hall have a point when he says that he would not "buy his approval" to be a candidate?
