Jan Hornby defiant in face of calls to give up Hull City Council seat
A COUNCILLOR who feels "let down" by the Lib Dem leadership is refusing to buckle to pressure and resign after walking out on her party.
Lib Dem Councillor Jan Hornby angered some in the party by resigning hours after learning she had lost a ballot to find a candidate for the 2014 local authority elections.
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STANDING FIRM: Councillor Jan Hornby. Picture: Kate Woolhouse
But Cllr Hornby last night insisted she would continue to represent Holderness ward, despite mounting pressure from a section of Lib Dems to step down from the council.
She said: "I no longer wanted to be affiliated to a party whose policies have changed, both local and nationally. Along with many, I feel let down by the party.
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"I became a councillor for the Holderness ward in 2010 because I wanted to support local people and make a positive difference to the area.
"This involves working in partnership with people and sharing information.
"My vision has not changed and I will continue to work hard in fulfilling my role as a local representative for the people."
Cllr Hornby said her decision to resign on Monday, a short time after learning of the outcome of Saturday's ballot, was not taken lightly.
"It was a decision I shared with many others, past colleagues, friends, family and, most importantly, residents," she said.
"I am currently working on many projects within the Holderness ward.
"It's amazing what can be achieved when working together with other ward councillors, residents and community groups."
Cllr Hornby claimed the ballot result did not influence her decision to walk out on the party.
She said: "I believe there is a process that has to be followed when selecting candidates for elections; first you have to be selected by the party through a panel, be accepted, and then be placed into a ballot.
"As I have not been involved in any of the above processes I fail to see how this could affect my decision.
"My beliefs have not changed – theirs have.
"I will maintain a positive and honest dialogue with the people I care about and that is the people of Hull."
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, Cllr Mike Ross, Lib Dem deputy group leader, accused Cllr Hornby of "letting everyone down".
He said: "We are disappointed by Cllr Hornby's actions. We expect high standards from our councillors.
"There is a real job to do in Hull holding the Labour-run council to account for the decisions they are making and the promises they are breaking. Now more than ever, Hull needs a strong opposition – that's what we are here to do."
Comments
by DonnaKebab
Friday, October 19 2012, 9:08AM
“I do find it strange that if someone criticises an article that persons motives and reasons are commented on rather then the article. I would just like to point out 2 things Fred flinty you have no evidence that it is a Lib Dem as I have no evidence you are Sean Chaytor, except the phrasing of your statement, as to Lionking2 he is never Mr Ross the phrasing is quite totally wrong for an educated man like him. But it still stands like Candy Guy, I would like my councillor to be someone who represents the ward they live in, not someone from miles away and in this case outside the city. I believe you should at the very least be eligible to pay council tax in that ward. So perhaps Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will take notice of this as they select their members for seats in the next elections. I also believe if someone else paid for your campaign as has been suggested then you should resign the lot and pay for your own to see if you have a mandate like lionking2 suggested.”
by GuyCandy
Friday, October 19 2012, 1:06AM
“I think it only right and proper that councillors should live in the Ward they represent, not just the town or city.”
by fredflinty
Friday, October 19 2012, 12:23AM
“Lyingking2, I wonder which lying Lib Dem you are , My guess is the lying toad ROSS”
by LionKing2
Thursday, October 18 2012, 7:17PM
“Ask Labours Councillor who lives in Beverley.”
by LionKing2
Thursday, October 18 2012, 6:33PM
“Because the rules were relaxed and you can be a councillor he you Wwork in the area.”
by cantstandu
Thursday, October 18 2012, 4:45PM
“Lion King2 has a point but how can you live outside Hull and be a Councillor in Hull ?”
by LionKing2
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:42PM
“Yes a final comment who paid for your campaign to be elected, I suspect the Local Lib Dems and if that is the case and if you feel so safe that you don't need their support and their cash to win then do the right thing resign and give everyone a chance to endorse your position. Of course if you are in it for the money and no responsibility you have taken the right action and will just hang on for 19 months of free and easy allowances rather than giving the voters the right to decide who and what party they want to represent them.”
by LionKing2
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:33PM
“3dogz is right, Smiley 48 don't kid yourself Labby you are not one of the people who have had to carry the load she left behind her that I hear about, January48 has some truth to it I think. So here goes I questioned a Lib Dem last Night well, her attendance record was startlingly bad for meetings of course living in Hedon may have had something to do with that. She failed to help on the last election in anyway claiming she was never told what was happening and it was believed that a lot literature that was given to her never was delivered but instead was dumped. Even so she was sent all the paper work for approval and selection that anyone who wants to represent a ward as a Lib Dem in Hull is sent, she ignored it but because someone else wanted to sit there in Holderness, her name was on the ballot paper because she was the sitting councillor again she failed to turn up for a meeting and hardly surprising someone else who did, got the nomination. That seems to be about it and who can blame them it seems to me that this lady from Hedon could have done several things to save herself this embarrassment least of all turning up for your own selection meeting or sending apologies.”
by labby
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:34AM
“How refreshing a councillor who will stand for what they believe in, the community they serve. Councillor Hornby has served the Holderness Ward for two years and done an excellent job, just look at Pelican Park. She has the strength of her convictions to continue to serve the community she represents and should be applauded for that. Its a shame the leaders of the Lib Dems dont have the same convictions to carry out what they pledged to the electorate. Well done Councillor keep up the good work, when you stand again my vote will still be there for you where ever you allegance lies, as you will no doubt still have the welfare of the community at heart.”
by January48
Thursday, October 18 2012, 8:55AM
“Ms Hornby and her friends can make use of all this publicity, but the people who deselected her are not able to give their reasons, because of the confidentiality of the process. Of course the rules say that she remains a councillor, but she was elected because she represented a party, not because she is Jan Hornby, and it is always dishonourable to stay on once you've resigned from a party.”