Ribble Valley Labour Group are delighted to announce the addition of Councillor Derek Brocklehurst to their ranks following his defection from the Conservative party, boosting our contingent from seven to eight on Ribble Valley Borough Council and increasing the number of opposition councillors.
May’s elections saw a best ever result for Labour in the Ribble Valley, when Derek Brocklehurst, an Alston and Hothersall ward councillor in Longridge, was also elected uncontested. But after becoming disillusioned with the Tories nationally he has joined the Labour Party.
Cllr Brocklehurst, aged 52, said: “I joined Labour after some negotiations in recent weeks. I don’t think the Conservatives nationally are doing their job properly.
“I don’t feel I fit with the Conservatives any more, with all their in-fighting and issues like immigration and the NHS.
Cllr Brocklehurst grew up in Manchester before moving to the Ribble Valley. He works as a transport manager.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, he said: “I joined the Conservative Party in April just before I stood for election.
“My whole ethos is to help people. I thought being a local councillor would enable me to do that. The opportunity came with the Conservatives to stand. But over time, I have become disillusioned with the Conservative Party.
“The ward where I stood is a two-councillor ward, I was elected unopposed along with Jim Rogerson. We were both elected
“In Longridge, there’s now a lot of Labour councillors. It’s now primarily a Labour area. So, my move to Labour is in-keeping with the wider changes and feelings of the area. I also feel at home in Labour.
“Also, this isn’t the first time that a Conservative councillor has left the group. It’s happened in the past.”
Lee Jameson, leader of the Labour group at Ribble Valley Council, said: “Derek is a great addition to our now eight-strong Labour group. We will be using his experience for the benefit of all residents in Longridge and across the Ribble Valley.”
The Ribble Valley Labour Group would like to extend a warm welcome to Cllr Brocklehurst, who has already been making a big impact in his ward and community, and bringing fantastic ideas to make Longridge and the wider Ribble Valley a great place to live and work.