Peterborough: Father and son latest to resign from Tory group

Father and son councillors Mohammed and Saqib Farooq have resigned from the Conservative group

Two more councillors have resigned from the Conservative group on a city council.

Mohammed Farooq and Saqib Farooq are the fifth and sixth councillors to leave the party on Peterborough City Council since the May local elections.

It now leaves 24 Conservative seats on the authority, six seats fewer than the 30 they briefly held after the vote.

The Conservative group has denied Mohammed Farooq's allegation of a "toxic culture" within the authority.

A third councillor, John Howard, who had served as cabinet member for adult services and public health, also resigned this week, bringing the total number of councillors to stand down since the May elections to seven. 

Mohammed Farooq, who represented Hargate and Hempsted wards, was suspended from the party last month, but cleared of allegations that he was working with other councillors to bring a no confidence vote in the council leader, Wayne Fitzgerald.

His son Saqib Farooq, had represented the Glinton and Castor wards.

Mohammed Farooq said his son's resignation may be linked to his, as his family sat down together to discuss his health in light of the stress he said he had been under. 

The resignations come just weeks after the local elections on 6 May

Four other councillors, Ray Bisby (Peterborough First, Stanground South), Gavin Elsey (Peterborough First, Wittering), Peter Hiller (Peterborough First, Glinton and Castor) and Brian Rush (Peterborough First Stanground South) recently handed in their resignations.

Each had given various reasons for leaving, including planning decisions and the direction they felt the Conservative Party was headed.

The Conservatives remain the largest party on the city council but are no longer the majority.

They now hold the fewest seats they have had in more than two decades.

Mohammed Farooq said he now planned to sit as an Independent going forward. 

In a statement on behalf of the Peterborough Conservative group, Councillor Andy Coles said the group "strenuously deny that there is a toxic culture", adding that it was "disappointing that we were not given a right to respond to these allegations before they were released to the public, as we do not agree with what has been alleged."

He described Councillor John Howard as "a much-valued and capable member of the cabinet".

"Our group's priority is to deliver for the people of Peterborough," the statement added.

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