Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour?

A Liberal Democrat councillor in Barnsley has written to local residents to ask whether she should leave her party and join Labour in protest at the formation of the Coalition.

In a joint letter to residents of Dearne South, a ward in Barnsley Borough Metropolitan Council, Councillor Sharron Brook and defeated candidate in the recent local elections, Sarah Brook, write:

“The main reason that we are writing to you is to ask you what you would like us to do, seeing as the Liberal Democrats have chosen to form a coalition with the Conservatives, never considering the people in the deprived north. This will not make any difference to how we work for you within Barnsley Council and our villages.

“We are ashamed, as you are, of what the National Lib Dems have done in joining the Conservatives. Since 1964 I have had faith in the Liberals thinking they were principled, perhaps they were in years gone by but not after this election.”

The letter ends by setting out that:

“There are three alternative ways to choose and would you please let us know your wishes:

1. Go it alone

2. Join the Labour party

3. Stay as a Liberal Democrat”

LD Leaflet

http://twitter.com/beaubilly10/status/19434998838 fljf

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/philcane/status/19435100411 Philip Cane

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/sowadally/status/19435275138 Stewart Owadally

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/welshcollie7/status/19435274583 Colette Harris

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/rhiannon__rose/status/19435496319 Rhiannon Lowton

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/alison_mcgovern/status/19435500257 Alison McGovern

RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/lefty_lisa/status/19435512484 Lefty Lisa

RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @wdjstraw)
http://twitter.com/bipolarbearmd/status/19435573131 TheBiPolarBearMD

RT @Alison_McGovern: RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/markjarnell/status/19435645451 Mark Jarnell

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/degsykuytisboss/status/19435676191 Dave

RT @Alison_McGovern: RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/joshuwahwah/status/19435771180 Josh Eades

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/j_shirtcliffe/status/19435967208 James Shirtcliffe

RT @Lefty_Lisa: RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @w …
john

I think they should both resign their seats, if they are that principled, and force a re-election. I note with interest this is not an option they have given people.
How is them getting elected as Lib Dems, keeping their seats and changing THEIR colours to red any different than the national Lib Dems getting elected as Lib Dems and changing their colours to blue?
For all their principles, they aren’t prepared to risk their seats for it.
Shows the true motivation is self interest and preservation.
Sam Morris

Wow, I love how some people don’t understand compromise at all. Would she rather have a fully Conservative government that would have been formed be it minority or majority with the support of smaller right-wing parties?
http://twitter.com/wesstreeting/status/19437805229 Wes Streeting

RT @SamTarry: RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @wdj …
http://twitter.com/jamesasser/status/19437855074 James Asser

RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @wdjstraw)
http://twitter.com/jamesjwalsh/status/19437912837 James-J Walsh

RT @JamesAsser: RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @w …
http://twitter.com/samtarry/status/19438009950 Samuel Tarry

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/liberationlover/status/19438041422 Annie B

RT @JamesAsser: RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @w …
http://twitter.com/clawsfour/status/19438195948 Bella

RT @SamTarry: RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/mitchellat/status/19438213279 Alex Mitchell

RT @SamTarry: RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/sj_consigliere/status/19438241654 Steve Jones

Lib Dems in freefall as councillor asks residents: Should I join Labour?: http://bit.ly/bVcDab #ukpolitics #libdems #condem #labour #clegg
http://twitter.com/ericthefishking/status/19438274043 Eric Fish

RT @Alison_McGovern Lib Dem cllr to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
< better than defecting without telling voters.
http://twitter.com/gift_of_the_fab/status/19438292297 Fabienne

I hope this Lib Dem councillor is not going to let the decision be decided by a FPTP vote: http://bit.ly/bVcDab
http://twitter.com/markwrightuk88/status/19438383494 mark wright

is this the true feeling of the lib dems on a national level ? http://is.gd/dEISM
http://bestblogs.labourhome.org/2010/07/24/lib-dem-councillor-to-residents-should-i-join-labour/ Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? « The best Labour blogs

[...] More… [...]
http://twitter.com/cllrpaulankers/status/19438531557 Paul Ankers

RT @gift_of_the_fab: I hope this Lib Dem councillor is not going to let the decision be decided by a FPTP vote: http://bit.ly/bVcDab
http://twitter.com/shivi_ita/status/19438593354 Siobhan Ita Sabino

RT @Alison_McGovern: RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/adreamofhoney/status/19438648247 -

Opposition comes from within! RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/ben_spencer/status/19438803075 Ben Spencer

RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @wdjstraw)
http://twitter.com/trakgalvis/status/19438975975 Trakgalvis

Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y via @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/drjonathanphd/status/19439866667 Jonathan Davies

RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join #Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y #ukpolitics #libdems
http://twitter.com/9xzulug/status/19440010930 winston k moss

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/andrew4mk/status/19440160606 Andrew Pakes

RT @Alison_McGovern: RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/bendylan/status/19440359070 Ben Jones

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/isabel999/status/19440920171 Catherine Jamieson

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y YES!
http://twitter.com/carolinagayle/status/19441055594 carolina

Shape of things 2 come i think http://bit.ly/baBcft via @TomHarrisMP
http://twitter.com/roxsie/status/19441069919 Roxanne Ellis

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/roobroobux/status/19441261647 Reuben Kandiah

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/ccat446/status/19441314519 Chris Kelsey

RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @wdjstraw)
http://twitter.com/andreawalko/status/19441497369 Andrea Walko

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/magsnews/status/19442023843 Mags W

RT @SamTarry: RT @TomHarrisMP: Angry LibDem councilllor asks constituents if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/bVcDab (via @wdj …
http://twitter.com/richardwatts01/status/19442800554 Richard Watts

RT @Alison_McGovern: RT @leftfootfwd Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/martinrawson/status/19444392894 Martin Rawson

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/helenmcstravick/status/19445778425 HelenMcStravick

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/beaubilly10/status/19446748197 fljf

RT @SJ_Consigliere: Lib Dems in freefall as councillor asks residents: Should I join Labour?: http://bit.ly/bVcDab #ukpolitics #libdems …
http://twitter.com/rosarubicondior/status/19446798500 Rosa Rubicondior

RT @SJ_Consigliere: Lib Dems in freefall as councillor asks residents: Should I join Labour?: http://bit.ly/bVcDab #ukpolitics #libdems …
Mr. Sensible

Sam, we’ve effectively got a Tory government anyway; the Lib Dems have sold out on a lot of things, not least the big issue of the election; the economy, spending cuts, and VAT. That might have something to do with the 13% poll ratings, and may be part of the reason why we are where we are.

There’s compromise, and there’s compromise.

At any rate, Will, it seems that all’s not quite 100% within the coalition, on both sides. First, you had David Davies’s comments picked up by an FT journalist,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jul/24/david-davis-brokeback-coalition-pub-talk

And then elsewhere in the Guardian they reported today that 5 Lib Dem MPs were unhappy with the Academies Bill, 1 saying that:
“There are few things more important than education, and if my actions make problems for me, so be it.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jul/23/michael-gove-school-admissions-selection

At any rate, Will, I definitely think there’s something simmering in there. Some analysts have suggested things could come to a head next May, with both local elections and the AV referendum, but I think things could come to a head sooner than that. Because to get the referendum legislation first has to be passed. As I understand it, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill is due to get its Second Reading in September, and there is tension with regard to it and so the passage of the Bill.
http://twitter.com/georginarannard/status/19447361842 Georgina Rannard

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://weekisalongtime.blogspot.com A week is a long time

Is it me being dumb? Surely she’ll be sacked in a couple of days so option 3 is kind of f***ed?
http://twitter.com/humphriesjohn/status/19451394722 John Humphries

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/jason_manc/status/19452455842 Jason

LD councillor asks whether she should defect! — http://bit.ly/ciiJUV
http://twitter.com/hopefulvoter/status/19493411707 Peter Neal

RT @joshuwahwah: RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/jameschanuk/status/19570842974 James Chan

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/oates244/status/19659857449 danny oates

RT @leftfootfwd: Lib Dem councillor to residents: Should I join Labour? http://bit.ly/cUD72Y
http://twitter.com/politicsofuk/status/19742074695 Politics of UK

Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://twitter.com/jilliansaint/status/19742372240 Jillian St. Andre

wow … RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://twitter.com/paulsandars/status/19742435594 Paul Sandars

RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://twitter.com/mrwyeng/status/19742500878 Wy Eng

RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://twitter.com/seanowenmoylan/status/19743354171 Sean Owen-Moylan

RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://twitter.com/_jonb/status/19743511903 Jon Beech

#gangoftwo RT @jilliansaint: wow … RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://twitter.com/jacqkelly/status/19743796129 Jacq Kelly

RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz << how peculiar
http://twitter.com/liammckee/status/19744282514 Liam McKee

Lib Dem Councillor asks voters if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/9uNDpz #condem
http://twitter.com/apparentlyfunny/status/19744913401 apparently funny

RT @LiamMcKee: Lib Dem Councillor asks voters if she should defect to Labour. http://bit.ly/9uNDpz #condem
http://twitter.com/2createit/status/19759439158 Carlos Sibbick

RT @politicsofuk: Is this the strangest Lib Dem leaflet ever? #ukpolitics http://bit.ly/9uNDpz
http://thenovocastrian.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/barnsley-defection/ Barnsley defection « Rob Carr – A Novocastrian Abroad

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