MID Devon District Councillor Graeme Barnell (Newbrooke Ward) has announced that he has left the LibDem Group on Mid Devon District Council to join the Non Aligned Group of Independent Councillors.
In a statement, Cllr Barnell told the "Crediton Courier": "I’ve left the LibDem Group because I’ve been spending too much time opposing the Conservative Group’s undemocratic approach to running Mid Devon District Council and not enough on issues in my local Neighbourhood that are important to my neighbours in Newton St Cyres and Shobrooke.
"I intend to match the hard work of many LibDem Councillors to improving services in the neighbourhoods in which they live.
"I’ve always been a bit of a maverick and moving over to be an independent Councillor frees me up, both to do more local work and also to take my own line when it comes to the mismanagement of Mid Devon Council by the Conservatives.
"I haven’t fallen out with the Liberal Democrats.
"We will remain friends and allies and I’m sure we’ll support one another when it’s necessary."