Councillors defect over council tax and rent rises

Two Liberal Democrat councillors in East Yorkshire have defected to become Independent after they said they were unable to support rising council tax and rent bills.

Julia Conner and Sherilee Jepmond, who both represent the Longhill and Bilton ward, are now listed as Independents on the Hull City Council website.

The move has reduced the Liberal Democrat council majority to one on the council. The party has 29 councillors, Labour has 25 and there are now three Independents.

Conner, who defected from Labour to the Liberal Democrats three years ago, said the recent budget announcements were the final straw.

She said: "Last year we were the only two Lib Dems in the group to vote against the maximum increase for council tax of 4.99% and 7.7% rent increase for council tenants.

"This year we could not support a Lib Dem budget which, for the third year running, increased the council tax and tenants' rent to the maximum possible.

"In the last two years council rent has increased by 14.7%, putting additional financial pressures on families already struggling with a cost of living crisis."

Earlier this month, council leader Mike Ross said the money from the increased council tax would go towards funding pothole repairs, street cleaning and making communities safer.

It was the third consecutive year that the tax was increased by the maximum amount allowed without a referendum.

The pair will now join councillor Gary Douglas Wareing in forming a new Independent Group.

Wareing told a council meeting on Thursday that Jepmond and Connor would be "freed in their new positions in the Independent Group", adding that "in the council chamber there's many others who feel their link with their groups have been loosened".

He invited other members of the council to join the new group and said: "Come and sit over here, there's plenty of room."

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "We're aware of the two councillors leaving the group and we wish them well.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to work hard all year round for the residents of Longhill and Bilton Grange."

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