Rutland county councillor Alan Walters quits Conservative Party

A Conservative councillor has announced he is resigning from the party and from the Conservative Group on a council.

Coun Alan Walters, who represents residents of Oakham North East on Rutland County Council, sits on its cabinet. His responsibilities include health, adult safeguarding and social care, and leisure.

Following his party resignation yesterday (Thursday), Coun Walters said he had planned to remain a member of the group for a few more months, but felt it would be beneficial to the council to make the announcement after polls closed in the Oakham North West by-election, but before the results of the count had been made known.

“This means that my announcement neither affects the outcome of the election, nor can it be said to have been affected by the result,” he said.

Coun Walters, who has been on the council for a decade and a cabinet member for five years, will continue as an independent.

He said: “If anything, this will give me more time to devote to my local residents, as I save the time needed to attend party political meetings. My dedication to the role remains the same.”

He added: “I was first elected as an independent member of the council with a very strong majority, so this is nothing new to me.”

Rutland County Council has 26 members. Of these, 13 are Conservatives, eight Independents, four Liberal Democrats and one is a Green Party member.