Richard Britton, who stood as Conservative candidate in Offerton in the May 2016 local elections, and is a resident in Marple North, has resigned from the Conservative Party and joined the Liberal Democrats.

“I am now convinced that the Liberal Democrats offer the most constructive and positive platform to argue for progressive liberalism,” Richard said.  “A much less progressive and more right-wing element has come to dominate the Conservative Party.”

Dr Richard Britton is a writer and academic, having gained his PhD in religions and theology from the University of Manchester.

Leader of Stockport Council Liberal Democrats, Cllr Iain Roberts, pictured above with Richard, welcomed him into the party. “As the Conservative party moves to the right, and Labour remains trapped in internal warfare, we are seeing more and more people come to the Liberal Democrats.”

“Under Tim Farron’s leadership, the Liberal Democrats are the only party standing up for a liberal, outward-looking Britain,” Iain added. “Richard is one of more than 13,000 new members who have joined the party since the EU Referendum and I look forward to working with him.”  In the North West alone our membership has increased by 50%.

Stockport Liberal Democrats won more seats than any other party in the May local election and campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU.

 

Statement from Richard Britton

I never thought I would be writing this. After much careful thought, and for a variety of reasons, I have left the Conservative Party and joined the Liberal Democrats.

I realise some in my former party may feel deeply betrayed by this, but I am following my heart and trying to remain true to myself and my principles, and be honest with everyone. Unfortunately some feel I should have put the Conservative Party before my beliefs and what I think is best for the local area and the country. This assumption is a huge error of judgement by these people.

One reason for my defection is that in the lead up to the referendum and afterwards, a much less progressive and more right-wing element has come to dominate the Conservative Party. The Conservative contribution to the Leave campaign was also, in my opinion, second only to UKIP’s in terms of its inaccuracy and misleading nature. It now seems plain that this right-wing faction will either provide the new leader of the party, or indeed exert huge influence on whoever else does. In addition to this, I am dismayed at how some of the Leave misinformation has been propagated at a local level within the Conservative Party.

My main reason, however, is that I am now convinced that the Liberal Democrats offer the most constructive and positive platform to argue for progressive liberalism. As my old friends would no doubt testify, I was more conservative in my youth, but as I have grown older my views have become more diverse and mixed. I now realise that the Liberal Democrats best embody my values and principles, which are essentially liberal and social democratic.

I am incredibly excited for the future, and I really look forward to working with the Hazel Grove and Stockport Liberal Democrat team to help shape a more inclusive and progressive future for Stockport and for the country as a whole.

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