Peterborough City Council: Three Conservatives resign from party

The resignations come just two weeks after the local elections

Three Peterborough Conservative councillors have resigned from the party, only two weeks after the Tories strengthened their control.

The resignations of Peter Hiller, Brian Rush and Ray Bisby still leaves the Conservatives as the largest party on the city council.

But they are without a majority and their seats have dropped to their lowest number since 2020.

All three councillors have moved to independent group, Peterborough First.

Mr Rush and Mr Bisby both said a development of 20 buildings planned for the Stanground area, known as Horsey Bridge, played a part in their decision.

It was rejected by the city council's planning committee but three Tory councillors called in the decision, meaning it will be looked at again and it is expected to be the subject of a future council meeting.

Mr Rush, a councillor for 23 years, said there were other reasons for leaving the party that he "won't say", but he said he wanted to "make decisions for the community I serve". 

Asked about the timing of his resignation, just weeks after the local elections, he said he simply wanted to tender it before the council's annual general meeting on Monday.

At the meeting, the leader of the council, as well as Peterborough's new mayor, will be officially decided. 

When asked if his decision was to do with the Horsey Bridge development, former acting police and crime commissioner Mr Bisby said "amongst other things".

"It's against my principles. I can't vote for it, it's the wrong thing."

Mr Hiller said there was "no single area of concern" in relation to his resignation, but that he did not want to "go along with the political self-interest of the current administration". 

"I'm not naming names or slagging off the current administration, that's not something I wish to do, but it's what I've decided to do and that's what I've done." 

The Conservative council leader, Wayne Fitzgerald, has been contacted for comment.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [e-mail] or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830