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13
Jun 2023
Harrogate councillor Michael Schofield has left the Liberal Democrats and will sit as an independent on North Yorkshire Council.
Cllr Schofield was elected in May 2022 in the Harlow and St Georges division after winning 45% of the vote.
However, after just over a year he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this morning that with the Lib Dems preparing for a potential general election next year he has stepped away from the party to focus on local issues.
He said:
Cllr Schofield’s decision to stand as an independent follows similar moves by councillors on different parties in recent months.
In April, Scarborough councillor Tony Randerson resigned from the Labour party and stood as an independent in a by-election that he won.
This week Conservative councillor for Camblesforth, Mike Jordan, quit the party citing dismay with the national party.
North Yorkshire Council has 45 Tory members and the same number of Liberal Democrat, Liberals, Labour, Green and Independent councillors.
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