Liberal Democrats row breaks out as councillor quits

Councillor Mirna Juarez represents Much Woolton and Hunts Cross

A row has broken out between a Liberal Democrat group and one of their former councillors after she announced she was quitting the party to sit as an independent.

Mirna Juarez, who represents Much Woolton and Hunts Cross in Liverpool, had served two terms totalling 13 years and has been a party activist for over 25 years.

In a statement the Liverpool Liberal Democrats group said it was "disappointed" she had left the group and also stated after "months" of being supported through a code of conduct case, Ms Juarez "needs to focus on her own wellbeing".

Ms Juarez said it was "very sly of the Liberal Democrats to insinuate about my health and wellbeing, which is perfectly fine thank you".

Ms Juarez, who was first elected in 2016, was under investigation after a complaint was made suggesting she had verbally “attacked” the chairman of a city council meeting which was disrupted by protestors last July.

She was later cleared and has criticised the ruling Labour group for lodging what she described as “baseless complaints”.

Liverpool Liberal Democrats Leader Carl Cashman confirmed Ms Juarez had left the group

A letter issued last week by Carl Cashman, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, confirmed Ms Juarez had now left the group.

A statement from the group said: "We are disappointed to have to say that Councillor Juarez has left the Liberal Democrat group.

"This comes after months of supporting her through a code of conduct case based on spurious complaints made against her by other political parties, which were thrown out in a large part due to the work of our group whip, Councillor Malcolm Kelly.

“We think that, at the moment, Mirna needs to focus on her own wellbeing and what is right for her. We wish her the best in doing that.

“The Liberal Democrats will focus on working hard for Much Woolton & Hunts Cross and Liverpool as a whole and we will continue to pick up case work for residents of this area."

Ms Juarez confirmed she was now sitting as an independent.

“I have decided that’s the best way for me to do my job for the community," she said.

"I worked hard in the group and I rebuilt the group when we were going down to one councillor.

“However, the Liberal Democrat group no longer feels like home to me and I have decided to leave in order to devote more of my time to serving the community in Much Woolton and Hunts Cross, where I live."