Longstanding Lib Dem councillors’ resignations throw party into turmoil

The Knowle Community Party has been formed after two longstanding Lib Dem councillors broke away from their orange-rosetted colleagues to go it alone.

Former lord mayor Chris Davies (pictured above left) and former Lib Dem Bristol group leader Gary Hopkins (above right) both remain as councillors but no longer represent the Liberal Democrats in City Hall.

In a leaflet sent to Knowle residents, Davies and Hopkins said that “the party label was irrelevant to most people locally”.

Bristol24/7 understands that Hopkins in particular was at loggerheads with Lib Dem group leader Jos Clark.

Losing one-quarter of their councillors leaves the Lib Dem group with only six remaining councillors at City Hall, with Davies and Hopkins removed from the Lib Dem website minutes after their resignations from the party were made public.

In the leaflet sent to residents, Hopkins, who has been a Lib Dem councillor for 19 years, and Davies, who has been a councillor for 18 years, said that “there is a good possibility of us being able to air issues important to Knowle even more effectively in our new status”.

Their resignations were met with glee from the Labour Party, who claimed that Hopkins and Davies will be able to receive taxpayer-funded allowances for being the de facto leader and whip of the Knowle Community Party.

Knowle-ing me, Knowle-ing you: the leaflet sent to residents by the newly formed Knowle Community Party

A statement from the Lib Dem group said: “Bristol Liberal Democrat councillors have been notified of the resignation from their group of Cllr Chris Davies and Cllr Gary Hopkins. It is understood that they are to form their own independent group.

“Since May, when Cllr Hopkins was replaced as Group Leader by Cllr Jos Clark, neither he nor Cllr Davies have attended meetings of the Lib Dem group. We are pleased that at last they have clarified their position. Obviously many of their residents will wonder why both chose to do this, just months after the local elections.

“We wish both Chris and Gary well and will continue to work with them, where we share similar views, as we do with any councillor on the Council.

“As Liberal Democrats we will continue to speak up for the residents of Knowle ward and will continue to ensure they are kept informed about what Liberal Democrats are doing on their behalf.

“We will also be wholeheartedly fighting the upcoming referendum campaign, positively promoting the benefits of a modern committee system, and advocating for greater devolution of power within the city.”

The Lib Dems in happier times – photo: Bristol Lib Dems

A Twitter thread from the @BristolLabour account said: “It’s clear that these roles aren’t necessary in a group consisting of only two councillors. Will they do the right thing and reject these allowances – when Council budgets are already stretched – or did they only defect to line their own pockets?

“This is just a taste of what life in Bristol would look like under a Committee System – constant disagreements, splits and councillors acting in their self-interest.

“If the Lib Dems can’t keep a single-issue party of eight councillors together, how do they expect to keep cross-party committees together?

“Bristol can’t afford to turn back the clock to the era infighting, indecision, and unaccountability.”

Main photo: Local Democracy Reporting Service

Read more: Referendum to decide whether to replace elected mayor with committee system

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