Council’s Lib Dem group welcomes County Times Free Speech Charter

Several Lib Dem councillors, Leonard Crosbie, Malcolm Curnock, Frances Haigh, Godfrey Newman and David Skipp

The Liberal Democrat group at Horsham District Council has formally welcomed the County Times’ Free Speech Charter - launched in the wake of the secrecy controversy following Christian Mitchell’s deselection as chairman-elect.

Individual Lib Dem councillors Christine Costin, Godfrey Newman, Leonard Crosbie, and David Skipp have already written to the County Times confirming their support.

Frances Haigh, leader of the Lib Dem Group, said: “The Liberal Democrat Group at HDC welcomes the WSCT Free Speech Charter.

“Our party constitution includes the following:- ‘We believe that people should be involved in running their communities. We are determined to strengthen the democratic process and ensure that there is a just and representative system of government with effective Parliamentary institutions, freedom of information, decisions taken at the lowest practicable level and a fair voting system for all elections. We will at all times defend the right to speak, write, worship, associate and vote freely’.

“In our Standing Orders, one of our four Aims is:- ‘To increase the effectiveness of members as representatives of their constituents’.

“As a group, we discuss issues and agree a group position, but members are free to act in accordance with their own individual conscience.

“Members are never prevented from speaking or voting as they wish, nor are they sanctioned.

“The statement for the Free Speech Charter: ‘I undertake to speak, write and vote on behalf of my constituents without fear or favour of party discipline. If I am a member of a political party, I will respect its values and honour its pre-election manifesto pledges - but I will always put first the people I am elected to serve’, is therefore totally in accordance with Liberal Democrat principles.

“Each councillor is free to make their own decision as to whether they wish to sign the Charter.”

The newspaper has contacted all 44 district councillors along with the leaders of the political groups at West Sussex County Council inviting them to sign up to a simple statement of intent.