The Liberal Democrats have become one of the shortest-lived opposition parties in the history of local politics, after three councillors left the party in as many weeks.
Sunderland Liberal Democrats made headlines on 4th May 2023 when they became the official opposition party of Sunderland City Council for the first time in the party’s history.
However, just four months since the party cheered becoming the city’s main opposition party and promised to “give residents a strong opposition voice”, it has already lost the title, after three councillors submitted resignation letters in as many weeks.
The first resignation, on 16th August, saw veteran councillor Colin Nicholson leave the party to become an independent, stating in an open letter to residents that he felt the need to “choose his residents over his party.”
The decision led to the leader of the Lib Dems, Cllr Paul Edgeworth, vehemently denying claims of party in-fighting and “councillors feeling dismayed with the party”.
Yet just three weeks after those comments, the leader of the then-opposition has been left red-faced, after two more councillors – Cllr Allen Curtis of Doxford Ward and Cllr George Smith of Pallion Ward – this week left the Lib Dems to join the city’s ruling Labour Party.
Speaking about his decision, Cllr Curtis, who was one of the new cohort of councillors to join the party in May, said: “I became a councillor with the sole intention of providing a voice for the people of Doxford Ward, however I felt as though my efforts just weren’t being reciprocated by my party.
“Councillors are elected to represent their residents and to help drive real positive change across the city, however the Lib Dems just seemed constantly hell-bent on talking the city down and scoring cheap political points as opposed to actually delivering for communities.
“For me, being a councillor is about helping improve the lives of residents, fighting for local community groups and creating an all-round better Sunderland, and in Labour, I feel as though I have a party which actually shares that ethos.
“I can see the vision helping transform Sunderland and I love the way it’s going. It’s an incredibly exciting time and I’m looking forward to being part of a party which is actually helping the city progress instead of one doing everything in its power to hold it back.”
Cllr George Smith, who has been a serving Lib Dem councillor for Pallion Ward for over five years, resigned on the same day as his colleague and echoed his reasons for leaving.
He said: “I believe I was elected by the people of Pallion Ward to do a job, and that job is to stand up for them and to help them in times of need.
“However, over the past few months, the pressures placed on the Lib Dem councillors by the party have just been overwhelming and I really wasn’t comfortable with the direction the party was going in.
“Instead of prioritising supporting the people in our communities who elected us, we were being asked to prioritise campaigning and leafletting, which is not why I stood to be a councillor.
“By joining the Labour Party, it has taken a lot of weight off my mind. I can rest assured that I’m doing the job I’m employed to do, not the job that my party wants me to do, and I would like to re-assure residents that while I may have changed party, it will certainly not change how I continue to fight and work for our residents.”
Cllr Phil Tye, Chair of Sunderland Labour Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Allen and George to the Labour Party and are excited to work alongside them to help deliver real change for residents.
“Their decision not only shows their commitment to help us continue driving real change across Sunderland, but it also proves that the Lib Dems age-old tactic of playing political games and pulling the city down instead of helping us make real progress was always doomed to fail.
“Add the fact that numerous residents have voiced concerns over recent months that they have been unable to get in touch with their Lib Dem councillors, and it’s no surprise that the most diligent councillors among the party are feeling so dismayed and are realising that only Labour can help create a better, more prosperous Sunderland.”
Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Labour Group, added: “I am delighted to welcome Allen and George to the Labour Group.
“I have the utmost confidence that they will prove great additions for the party and we look forward to working with them as they continue to work hard to deliver for the people of Doxford and Pallion wards.”