Four Tory South Ribble councillors leave group in leadership protest
Four South Ribble Conservative Councillors have gone independent in protest against their leader.
Four South Ribble Conservative Councillors have gone independent in protest against their leader.
It's after a report found the authority may have put the safety of passengers at risk by not doing the proper checks before licensing taxi drivers.
Cllr Paul Wharton, Cllr Michael Nathan, Cllr Andrea Ball and Cllr Barbara Nathan have resigned as they're not happy with the way the taxi licensing scandal was handled by council leader Margaret Smith.
They're now operating as independent Conservatives.
This means that the Conservative party no longer have enough councillors to hold a majority of the council.
We've contacted council leader Mrs Smith and she has not replied to us.
Here's the statement from the four councillors:
"Cllr Paul Wharton, Cllr Michael Nathan, Cllr Andrea Ball and Cllr Barbara Nathan have resigned the whip from the current conservative group at South Ribble Borough Council.
We are all very aware that we have been voted in as conservative councillors by the residents of our respective wards in South Ribble, therefore we will continue to be independent conservative councillors without the rule of Cllr Margaret Smith overhanging.
As four independent councillors, we will work independently from the current conservative group. This will have no impact on the commitment we have to our residents and communities.
This decision has not been taken lightly, however due to the ongoing circumstances and failures within the current conservative group, we are are unable to support the working ideology of the leadership."