Three Conservative councillors in North Tyneside have resigned from the party after alleging that it is a hotbed of “sustained bullying” and “toxic behaviour”.
St Mary’s councillors Pam McIntyre, George Westwater, and Judith Wallace have announced their resignations from the Tory party and said they will serve as independent councillors. Their resignations come after the deselection of the former leader of the North Tyneside Conservatives, George Westwater, which they opposed.
In a joint statement, the rebel councillors said: “We have reported on several occasions serious concerns about bullying and hostile conduct within North Tyneside Conservative Federation. After much careful thought, we are resigning our membership because of these sustained issues of bullying and toxic behaviour.
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"Our decision is nothing to do with the national situation; we remain committed to Conservative principles. Our work for our wards and local residents is our top priority, and that work must not be disrupted by these issues afflicting the local Federation.
“Our residents and wards deserve strong, dedicated representation. The serious error of deselecting a hard-working, well-known sitting councillor - Coun George Westwater in St Mary’s - is the product of the hostile and bullying behaviour to which we have referred.
“We have nothing against the individual chosen to replace Coun Westwater. He did not create this situation. But by allowing these internal issues to reach this point, the local Federation has imposed an entirely unnecessary cost upon our constituents and the Conservative Party.
“The selection process should have been about picking the very best candidate for the ward. Instead, we have seen sustained mistreatment of sitting councillors, including ourselves, a matter which the Party is aware of but has failed to stop. Our decision has been taken reluctantly. We want, as we have always wanted, the best for our constituents and the success of Conservative principles - causes to which we have dedicated many years.”
Coun Westwater was initially replaced as a candidate by Tory hopeful Sean Brockbank, a former councillor for Monkseaton South. But Mr Brockbank stepped down from his candidacy weeks later due to personal commitments and his belief the party was moving in the wrong direction under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The new Conservative candidate for St Mary’s is now systems engineer Ian McAlpine.
In response to the allegations, a North Tyneside Conservative spokesperson stated that all three councillors were offered the opportunity to submit formal complaints, complete with evidence but “failed to do so”. The spokesperson said the departing councillors were “in debt to the local party” but this has been denied by them.
The spokesperson said: “These three were elected as Conservative councillors by their residents who have voted Conservative for decades. They should do the right thing and resign their seats to stand as independents if they are confident their constituents support this decision.”
All three ex-Tory councillors deny owing the party any money and said: “Sadly, this is another example of the unfounded allegations to which we have been subject.”
Deputy mayor of North Tyneside and Labour councillor Carl Johnson said: “If the Westminster Tories, with their constant sleaze and cost of living crisis, weren’t enough to stop you from voting Tory, when local stalwarts of the Conservative party like Judith, George, and Pam feel they can’t be a member of the party because of the behaviour, that should certainly make you consider it.”
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “We have an established Code of Conduct and formal processes where complaints can be made in confidence.”
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