Tory suspended over care home cuts criticism

Nigel Gourlay has been suspended from the Conservative party group on Derbyshire County Council

A Conservative county councillor who criticised his own party's plans to potentially close council-run care homes and day centres across Derbyshire has been suspended.

Nigel Gourlay said he would not have "voted for his own party" if he had known the proposals would be put forward.

An email seen on Friday by the BBC from the party's chief whip confirmed his suspension from the Conservative group.

Mr Gourlay said: "This is so other Conservative members who have care homes under threat of closure, stay in line."

The councillor, who now sits as an independent, spoke in favour of a Labour opposition motion to further investigate the impact of Derbyshire County Council's plans at a meeting earlier this week.

He voiced concerns around the future of Eccles Fold Resource Centre, which offers day support for residents with dementia and Whitestone care home, both in Chapel-en-le-Frith.

Eccles Fold day care centre in Chapel-en-le-Frith is at risk

His comments were widely criticised by his own Conservative colleagues.

Derbyshire County Council is consulting on closing up to 11 council-run care homes and eight day centres for people living with dementia in a bid to remodel the services and to save money.

Trade union Unison previously said cuts to council budgets will amount to about £32m over the next 12 months - mainly focused on adults and children's social care.

"These facilities in my area and others are absolutely crucial for the welfare of our people," Mr Gourlay told the BBC.

"If these go, it will affect the NHS and bed-blocking."

On his suspension, Mr Gourlay said: "I suspect [my suspension] is so other Conservative members who have care homes under threat of closure [in their area] stay in line.

"It was clear from my speech in it's response that I had been disloyal to the party, but my priority is my neighbours and that must come first for any councillor."

Mr Gourlay added there are a "mixture" of views in his own party on the matter from those who fully agree with the plans to others who are uneasy about it.

In an email sent to Mr Gourlay from chief whip Stuart Swann, it said: "This email is to inform you of the leader's decision to suspend your membership of the Derbyshire County Council Conservative group."

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