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Sunday, 5th September 2010You are in: Home > News > Chairman urges unity in local party group
Chairman urges unity in local party group
Alastair Ross, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council Liberal Democrat group, has urged for a rethink on an attempts to remove Councillor Martin Ford from the ruling group this afternoon.
Councillor Ross said: "Liberal Democrats were elected to run the council for the people of Aberdeenshire. That is the work we should be getting on with. Rather than expelling a very capable member, we should be agreeing better arrangements for how the Aberdeenshire Liberal Democrat group is run."
Councillor Martin Ford, whose casting vote saw Donald Trump's golf resort plans rejected is facing possible expulsion from Aberdeenshire Council's Lib Dem ruling administration group later this afternoon. Despite planning decisions being quasi judicial matters this latest move follows a series of events which have seen Councillor Ford removed from several key positions on the Council since he rejected the Trump application last year.
Fellow Lib Dem, Councillor Paul Johnston, who backed the decision to refuse the Trump application, said of this latest action: ���Should they be taking action against Martin to exclude him from the administration on the basis of a planning application, it is both foolish and very possibly improper."
In response to today's motion, Councillor Ford said: "I am very grateful for the many supportive messages and telephone calls I have received over the weekend from Aberdeenshire residents, party members and colleagues on the Council. "It is essential that councillors can decide for themselves how to vote on planning applications without fear of retribution from colleagues who take a different view. These are quasi-judicial decisions after all.
"It would not be appropriate for me to speculate publicly about the likely numbers of votes for and against Cllr Davidson's motion. However, to pass it does require a two-thirds majority and I have been very heartened by the number of colleagues - more than a third of the group - who have told me they do not agree with it.
"I still believe a way forward can be found that will draw a line under the way I have been treated over the last few months and allow the Liberal Democrat group to work together again. I hope that can be the outcome of Monday's meeting."
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