Conservatives lose control of Crawley as Councillor Marcella Head joins the Lib Dems

10.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 8th Dec 2006

Councillor Marcella Head (Broadfield South) has joined the Liberal Democrats

Councillor Marcella Head has left the Conservative party and the Conservative group on Crawley Borough Council to join the Liberal Democrats. The Council make up is now 18 Con, 16 Lab and 3 Lib Dem. As a result Crawley Borough Council is no longer a Conservative majority controlled council. With no one political party having a majority of Councillors this means Crawley is now under No Overall Control with the Liberal Democrats holding the effective balance of power.

This is devastating news for the Conservatives in what is the most marginal seat in the country and in the week that David Cameron celebrates the anniversary of becoming leader.

Marcella is distributing a letter (text of it below) to her constituents in Broadfield South over the weekend explaining her decision to resign from the Conservatives and join the Liberal Democrats.

Crawley BC covers exactly the same boundaries as the Crawley parliamentary seat. The Borough Council, up to May this year, had been Labour for over 30 years. The Conservatives took control this May after gaining three seats. One seat was won with a majority of 21 and another on the drawing of lots after a 500 vote dead heat.

The Crawley parliamentary seat is the most marginal in the country and Labour held it in 2005 with a majority of 37 votes.

Commenting on Marcella's decision to join the Lib Dems the Lib Dem group leader on Crawley Borough Council, Gordon Seekings, said "To say I'm happy about Marcella joining us is an understatement. From talking to her from when she was first elected it was clear that she was both a liberal and a Liberal Democrat. It just took her a while to realise it."

In her letter Marcella has said:

"I am writing to let you know that I have been representing Broadfield South residents as a Councillor on behalf of the Conservative party since May 2004. It has been a difficult decision to make but I feel I am no longer able to do so given my recent personal experiences as a Councillor and Broadfield resident.

"I am now certain I can best represent the community here in Broadfield and the town as a Liberal Democrat member.

"On local issues I believe that we should retain the Council housing stock without unnecessary cuts to any resident of Crawley - whether these are tenants, leaseholders, or private owner. I support better NHS facilities. Locally we should reinstate full services at Crawley Hospital, and both nationally and locally put patients first.

"Over the last 7 months I have found that the present Conservative run Council is no better at dealing with problems than the previous Labour controlled one. I believe for example that every resident, including those in the Courts area of Broadfield, should have an equal opportunity to recycle using the red top-bins. These are not available there, so we are told, 'because of funding'.

"On national issues I totally disagree with Britain going to war in Iraq - an issue that I have always agreed with the Liberal Democrats on.

"We need to restore trust both in national and local government and that everyone should have an equal opportunity to be heard and treated fairly whatever their background or situation.

"To serve the people of Broadfield - who I continue to be proud to represent - can better be done within the Liberal Democrats than as a Conservative or Labour member. We may be a minority group but together we will speak out fairly and truthfully for the local people on the issues that others may try to sweep under the carpet.

"I pledge to continue to serve the residents of Broadfield firstly and foremost and promise to work alongside other Councillors, no matter from what party, for the residents here in Broadfield.