Green Party councillor defects to Conservatives

Cllr Phil Hardy, who was the leader of the seven-strong Green Party group on Norfolk County Council, has defected to the Conservatives. He represents Thorpe Hamlet Ward.

The Green Party have 130 councillors. Of course on most councils they have no representation but have clusters here and there. Their strongest areas are Brighton & Hove, which they run, followed by Norwich City Council, then Lancaster. But Norfolk County Council was their fourth largest group and so Cllr Hardy was one of their most senior councillors.

Cllr Hardy is the third defector to the Conservatives on Norfolk County Council this year. (So far...)

Welcome aboard.

UPDATE

Simon Kirby, Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown, has welcomed the
news.

Simon said:

"I welcome Cllr Hardy to the Conservative Party and would encourage any green councillors in Brighton and Hove who may have similar feelings to make the switch. I was pleased that Cllr Hardy acknowledged David Cameron's impressive leadership and the efforts Conservative Council's, like Norfolk, which have sought to protect front line services and minimise the impact of reductions in local government funding."

"This senior defection from the Greens shows the diverse nature of the modern Conservative Party and demonstrates the growing recognition that the Green party does not have the answers to the problems facing our country."