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Senior Green defects to the Tories

By James Ledward
Dec 21, 2011 - 8:20:41 PM
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The leader of the Green group on Norfolk Country Council has defected to the Tories.


Cllr Philip Hardy

Philip Hardy was elected a councillor in 2009 to serve Norwich’s Thorpe Hamlet division. He said it had been a “very difficult decision” to make the switch to the ruling Tory group but he had "found himself more in tune with the policies of the Conservative Party."

He said:
“I’ve found myself alone on a growing number of issues of late within the Green Party.

“For example, I share David Cameron’s vision for a modernised NHS, which I believe will make it fit for the 21st century and I was proud when he inspired the international community to intervene in Libya earlier this year.”

Mr Hardy’s switch increases the Conservative group on Norfolk County Council to 63 members following the defections of Liberal Democrat councillors Paul Rice (Smallburgh South) and David Callaby (Fakenham).

Cllr Derrick Murphy, leader of Norfolk County Council said Mr Hardy’s defection was a “major coup”.

He said:
“Philip is a fantastic councillor who has already managed to make Norfolk a better place through his work on the Energy Services Company amongst other projects.

“He is a dynamic, passionate and hard working individual and I am confident he will make an excellent contribution to the Conservative Group at County Hall.

“We have worked out that he is the seventh most senior Green Party politician in the UK and one of the first group leaders in local government to join another political group.”


Mike Weatherley, MP (Tory)

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade welcomed Mr Hardy's defection. He said:
“This defection highlights the lack of vision held by the Green Party. Since the Green administration took control in Brighton & Hove, residents are slowly coming to realise that they have not got what bargained for. An influx of travellers, parking charges to be doubled, campers setting up in public spaces and putting squatters’ rights before home owners are just a highlight of the Green smudge. I welcome Cllr Hardy’s defection and, unsurprisingly, have already spoken to residents in Hove and Portslade who feel the same way.”


Simon Kirby, MP (Tory)

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown, also welcomed the defection adding:
"I welcome Cllr Hardy to the Conservative Party and would encourage any green councillors in Brighton and Hove who may have similar feelings to make the switch. I was pleased that Cllr Hardy acknowledged David Cameron's impressive leadership and the efforts Conservative Council's, like Norfolk, which have sought to protect front line services and minimise the impact of reductions in local government funding."

Simon continued:
"This senior defection from the Greens shows the diverse nature of the modern Conservative Party and demonstrates the growing recognition
that the Green party does not have the answers to the problems facing our
country."

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