Former West Sussex County Council leader leaves Conservatives
Louise Goldsmith led the authority for a decade
The former leader of West Sussex County Council has announced she has left the Conservatives.
Louise Goldsmith served as head of the authority between 2010 and 2019, leading the party to two election victories in that time.
But she stepped down from the role last year following a number of controversies.
A report from Ofsted found children's services in the county to be 'inadequate' with the council displaying 'ineffective leadership' - they was subsequently transferred to an independent trust.
That was followed by a critical report for the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service from the official watchdog, with Her Majesty's Inspectorate raising concerns about a 'culture of bullying' staff.
And the authority's former chief executive Nathan Elvery was confirmed to have received a substantial £265,000 financial settlement after leaving the post by mutual consent.
In a statement, Mrs Goldsmith said she would continue to represent Chichester West as an independent councillor.
She said: "I have always described myself as a traditional Conservative with a very deep interest in the environment and climate change. Although the Party is addressing both climate change and environmental matters, I am concerned that they do not go far enough and quickly enough to address these two highly critical issues.
"We all know that dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic is testing every government across the world, but as I said in a recent speech to the county council there are two colossuses the Government has to deal with: Climate Change and Covid both need the full attention of the administration.
“We become political activists at national or local government level for a range of reasons, because of conviction, to help and give back to the community, for a second career and all that it may entail.
“For me I am a conviction politician which has caused me to reflect over the last few months. Add to that recent events within the Chichester Conservative Constituency Association which have made me question whether I wish to remain a member of the Conservative Party or not.
“After nearly 20 years as a county councillor and many decades of being a paid member of the Conservative Party I have had to think very long and hard and my conclusion is to cease being a member of the Party.
“I would like to thank the many people and friends who have supported and encouraged me over the years. To those Conservatives who may think I have let them down — I apologise.”