Cornwall councillor Armand Toms resigns from Conservative party
Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for adult social care Armand Toms has today resigned from the Conservative party.
Mr Toms, Cornwall Councillor for East Looe, is the third cabinet member to leave the party following the council's decision to back Liberal Democrat proposal for a zero per cent rise in council tax last month.
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Cornwall councillor Armand Toms resigns from Conservative party
Mr Toms said: "The budget that was proposed by Alex Folkes means that £850, 000 will come out of adult social care for agency staff.
"I have spent four years working very hard to bring the services up to a reasonable level and I think what we are being asked to save and the increased in demand do not match up.
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"To see it go the other way would break my heart.
"I cannot support the budget therefore I am going against my group. I could have stayed and fought from within but I am not prepared to do that and not be able to voice my concerns. That is why I have done what I have done."
Following Mr Toms resignation this morning, there are now just two Conservative members in the cabinet.
Cabinet members Lance Kennedy and Carolyn Rule both left the Conservatives for the Independent group following the decision to freeze council tax.
And Stephen Rushworth, the portfolio holder for the economy, was sacked two weeks ago.
Fiona Ferguson, Conservative Group Leader, said she was sorry to report Mrs Toms' resignation.
Mrs Ferguson said: "The cabinet now is almost entirely made up of independent councillors and in no way reflects Conservative Party policy."
She defended the council's decision to freeze the council tax bill.
Mrs Fergusson said: "Conservative Party policy throughout has been to campaign against any rise in council tax to protect the hard working people of Cornwall.
"The bare facts are that to accept the Government grant for Cornwall of nearly £5 million and freeze council tax, we needed to save less than 1 per cent of a net budget of over £500m.
"Few people in Cornwall will believe that should be so very hard."
4 Comments
by toffer99
Thursday, March 14 2013, 3:33PM
“I expect all councillors to resign shortly.
After all, they've decided to contract out all the services to BT. 3 councillors and half a dozen staff will be plenty to take care of what little business remains.”
by nickthompson
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:56PM
“"Cornwall councillor Armand Toms resigns from Conservative party"
PHEW! for a moment I thought his conscience had at last got the better of him, when he realised that the elderly, disabled,the poor,and now the middle class are being screwed by his party,whlist millionaires are to be given £100,000 a year tax reduction.”
by ABTruro
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:47PM
“Taking the politics out of it, Councillor Toms is one of the hardest working and most decent Councillors in the county. He is an honourable and honest man and I have no doubt he is genuine in his motivations to ptotect services for vulnerable people.”
by josdave
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:45PM
“Typical of this council. The increase would not have been a burden on anyone and would have meant some essential services being kept up to scratch.”