Tory councillor expelled for standing against party
Dr John Doddy spoke to health secretary Steve Barclay during a previous visit
- Published
A Conservative councillor has been expelled after standing against his own party in the general election.
Dr John Doddy was first elected as a Conservative on Nottinghamshire County Council in 2012 but is now standing as an independent in Broxtowe.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Doddy said it was "not a protest, it's an individual voyage" and denied he was unhappy with the party.
The Conservatives have confirmed he is no longer a member but have declined to comment further.
The party's code of conduct states members must not oppose any Conservative candidate in any election or act as the agent for anyone who does.
The rules say doing so is an automatic disciplinary offence and if proved is likely to result in their expulsion.
Dr Doddy said his decision to stand against the Conservatives was "a personal voyage."
"You might be happy, for instance, if you were at Nottingham Forest but you hadn't won a cup or a league, then you get an opportunity to go to Man City and you think 'hey I could win something there'," he said.
He added he did not have the chance to put himself forward as the Conservative candidate for Broxtowe because there was already a "sitting candidate."
Asked if he would have liked to challenge for the nomination, he said: "I think that would have been down to the party."
He did, however, acknowledge he had held ambitions to stand for parliament "over many years".
He would not confirm whether or not he would continue to vote with the Conservatives in his capacity as a county councillor.
A full list of candidates standing in Broxtowe is as follows:
Juliet Campbell (Labour)
James Collis (Liberal Democrats)
John Doddy (Independent)
Darren Henry (Conservative)
Teresa Needham (Green)
Joseph Oakley (Reform UK)
Maqsood Syed (Workers Party of Britain)
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