Fareham councillor quits Conservative party - but rejoins just 24 hours later

Councillor Sarah Pankhurst e-mailed the chief executive officer of Fareham Borough Council, Peter Grimwood, to say she was leaving the party and joining a group of independent councillors on July 8.

But less than a day hours later, Cllr Pankhurst sent an email to council staff saying that she had decided to withdraw her resignation.

In an e-mail to residents in her Titchfield Common ward, seen by The News, the Cllr Pankhurst said her original decision was caused by concerns about ‘damaging decisions’ made within the party.

The e-mail continued: ‘Over the past 18 months to two years, I am finding that the local Conservative party is progressively stifling democracy and freedom of speech to represent the important factor in our borough – you as residents.

‘I am and always have been a Conservative, but feel I am unable to continue under the present organisation where loyalty to the local party leadership outstrips the need to consider residents’ views.’

A three-hour ‘heart-to-heart’ meeting with council leader Sean Woodward led to Cllr Pankhurst to change her mind last Thursday.

Speaking to The News, she said: ‘It was a very difficult decision.

‘I was assured that it would be a huge mistake, and my concerns would be addressed.

‘I feel my fears have been allayed.’

Councillor Woodward said Ms Pankhurst expressed ‘a few concerns’, but they were ‘not particularly local ones’.

He said: ‘She never left the party, she never left the group.

‘Some people – not just councillors – have found these months very, very hard.’

The decision came as a ‘slap in the face’ to Leslie Keeble, who left the Tory party in March to form The Independent Group.

He said: ‘I had spoken to Sarah on Tuesday (July 7) and I asked her, “are you absolutely sure this is what you want?”

‘She said, “yes, I cannot take it anymore”.

‘Then she changed her mind.

‘My group is incensed about it.’

Last year, Conservative councillor Peter Davies resigned over concerns about Boris Johnson becoming prime minister – before returning to the party just 90 minutes later.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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