East Riding Tory resigns over Fire Service cuts - did he jump or was he pushed?

11.20.00am GMT Mon 12th May 2008

David Nolan Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Haltemprice & howden

"The public deserve an explanation from the Tory Leader of East Riding Council about why Cllr Mark Preston has felt the need to resign from his group over the backing of fire service cuts," says David Nolan, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Haltemprice & Howden.

"Having met Cllr Preston in the past, I am sure he will have acted with honourable intentions over the matter. Mr Preston was elected as an East Riding Conservative and I think voters deserve to know why he is no longer part of that Group and why he is being treated as an outcast."

" I also find it strange that the Conservative MP for the area has said nothing over this rift between local elected representatives from his own Party. Does the MP support the Cllr Preston's stance over the fire cuts, or the Leader of the Tory-run Council?" These are not simply internal party matters, but concern the future of fire service cover in our area," says David.