Lib Dems Demands answers from Torbay Conservatives regarding Councillor's Party Membership

The Liberal Democrat leadership on Torbay Council has formally requested the Conservative council leader to clarify the party membership status of Councillor Hutchings, who represents the Furzeham and Summercombe ward in Brixham.

This request follows allegations from a member of the public that Cllr Hutchings, who campaigned and was elected as a Conservative in May 2023, may not be a current member of the Conservative Party.

These allegations stem from social media activity indicating support for Reform UK and subsequent inquiries to Conservative Party headquarters.

Lib Dem leader, Swithin Long, has written to Council leader Dave Thomas posing the following key questions:

• Is Councillor Hutchings a member of the Conservative Party?
• Is Councillor Hutchings a member of Reform UK?
• Was he a member of the Conservative Party when elected in May 2023?
• Has Councillor Hutchings ever been a member of the Conservative Party?
• If Councillor Hutchings is not a member of the Conservative Party, will he be excluded from the Conservative group on Torbay Council?
• If Councillor Hutchings was not a member of the Conservative Party when he was elected, will he accept that the residents of Furzeham and Summercombe were misled? And will the Conservative leadership call for his resignation?
• If Councillor Hutchings was not a member of the Conservative Party when selected as a candidate, what confidence can be placed in the party’s vetting process?

Swithin Long stated: “These allegations are very concerning. The Conservative leadership owes it to the people of Furzeham and Summercombe to give full clarity as to whether Cllr Hutchings was, in fact, a Conservative when elected.”

He further emphasized the narrow margin of Cllr Hutchings' victory of just 16 votes, highlighting the potential impact on the election outcome if his true party affiliation had been known. Cllr Long added that if Cllr Hutchings has effectively switched political allegiance at any stage during his time as councillor, the Conservative leadership should call for his resignation and a subsequent by-election, as they have consistently done in other such instances.

The Lib Dem group awaits a response from the Conservative leadership and will continue to monitor the situation closely