Abergele Councillor Dave Holland leaves the Conservatives

Mar 11 2010 by Ian Hughes, North Wales Weekly News

AN ABERGELE councillor has become the latest member to leave the Conservative party.

In a statement on Monday Cllr Dave Holland said: “After much soul searching and consideration I have decided to leave the Conwy Conservative group.

“I have not taken this decision lightly, as to ‘give up’ is not something I usually do.

“However, I am aware of my political views – I have none.”

Cllr Holland said that political voting on the council’s budget was the “last straw”, but stressed he had not fallen out with the party.

His resignation follows last month’s departure from the party by Deganwy’s Cllr Dennis Tew.

Janet Finch-Saunders, leader of Conwy Conservatives, was quick to dismiss the possibility of the two departures being linked.

“These matters are completely separate and decisions were made for completely different reasons,” she said.

MP for Clwyd West David Jones said: “I am always sorry when someone leaves, but although Cllr Holland is a nice man he had no background in the party.

“Maybe one day, after a while, he will decide to rejoin the Conservatives.”

Cllr Holland is now standing as an independent councillor, and this is something Cllr Finch-Saunders disagrees with.

“The people of Abergele and Pensarn elected a Conservative candidate,” she said.

“Dave Holland was sold as a Conservative and his campaign was supported by the Conservatives.”

Cllr Holland says he is now independent, but Cllr Finch-Saunders begs to differ.

“In this case he has said his decision is not politically minded but in being independent he is joining a political group,” she claimed.

“All other groups in Conwy are forming a coalition and this is negating the fact that at the last local election the Tory party took a third of the vote.”

Cllr Holland responded: “I would like to think it was my personal abilities and promises I gave to the electorate of Abergele/ Pensarn that helped me get elected, but I cannot deny that being a Conservative may have helped.”

David Jones MP commented: “People seem rather aggrieved that Conservatives had the largest number of votes and the council is not controlled by them. If people want that, then we should see more of them voting likewise next time.”