City's Lib Dem chairman quits in new blow for party

THE CHAIRMAN of Coventry Liberal Democrats has left the party after admitting he could not keep turning a blind eye' to broken promises.

Brian Patton claimed the party had lost its identity and was "voting fodder for Tory masters".

In a letter to former city councillor Russell Field, Mr Patton said he would revert to being an Independent.

He said he had come to the decision after reading through changes to the benefit system for elderly, disabled and unemployed people.

"Unfortunately, it is plain for all to see that we are not all in this together'," he said.

"The sick/disabled, old and poor are the ones who are having to bear the brunt of these austerity measures while the gap between the rich and poor will just keep getting wider.

"Having fought the General Election saying that we would not increase Tuition Fees it was very difficult for me to agree that the country perhaps couldn't afford everything that was promised because of the state the finances were left in."

Mr Patton, a former Labour city councillor, said he feared he would be accused of not knowing his politics by now leaving the Lib Dems but said there was not a political party he could support.

Turn to our letters page to read the resignation letter in full.

Mr Field lost his seat in May's local elections, meaning the party now has no political representation on the council.

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