Breaking Free: Two Councillors Defect from Conservatives to Launch Derbyshire First

In a surprising political shift, two Conservative councillors from Derbyshire Dales have left the party to establish their own group named Derbyshire First. Councillors Gareth Gee and Nigel Edwards-Walker claim that some of their former colleagues have “forgotten where they come from,” prompting their departure. Their resignation has reduced the Conservative representation on the district council—now controlled by a Liberal Democrat-led alliance—to just nine members.

The decision came on the heels of a challenging local election campaign for the Conservatives, with Councillor Gee, who recently ran for a seat in the Derbyshire County Council elections, facing defeat against Liberal Democrat Sue Burfoot. Expressing that the choice to leave was not made lightly, Gee emphasized that “politics needs to change and be more local.”

The newly formed Derbyshire First party aims to campaign against increasing housing targets, which have surged from 216 to 580 units per year as a result of government reforms. This reflects a broader concern about the potential for divisions brought on by local government reorganization. In response to the councillors’ departure, Sue Hobson, deputy leader of the Derbyshire Dales Conservative group, expressed disappointment over the change in allegiance, reiterating that elected officials must uphold the trust of their constituents. Despite the challenges, Hobson remains committed to serving the community, assuring residents that the Derbyshire Dales Conservatives will continue their hard work.