The Conservative Party's two Nottingham councillors have both confirmed they will stand as independents at this year's elections following a "divisive and unpleasant" row. Divisions remain among the local party's members after a dispute over the candidates being selected.
One of the two current Tory councillors, Roger Steel, was not chosen to stand for the Conservatives when the next Nottingham City Council elections take place on May 4. The decision came despite Councillor Steel having served as an elected Conservative member since 2011.
The other current Conservative councillor, Andrew Rule, said he would not stand for the party again in May in protest at the move. But rather than pulling out of the election altogether, Cllr Rule has confirmed that both he and Cllr Steel will instead stand as independent candidates.
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They will be standing in their current ward of Clifton West, with Cllr Rule officially submitting his nomination papers on Monday (March 27). Announcing the move, he said: "Residents may have read reports in the media that following a divisive and unpleasant selection process, Cllr Roger Steel and I are not seeking re-election in May.
"This is incorrect. In the last few weeks, I have been heartened to receive messages of support from residents across Clifton West who have encouraged me to stand as an independent candidate in May.
"Earlier this afternoon, I therefore submitted my nomination papers to Nottingham City Council with the full intention of seeking re-election as an independent candidate alongside Roger Steel. We very much hope we'll have the opportunity to meet with you and hear your priorities over the coming weeks, and that we can count on your support for re-election in May."
Paul Ruane, the chairman of the Nottingham City Conservative Federation, previously said in regards to the situation with Cllr Steel and Cllr Rule: "It's right that our elected members go through the same process as all other members and, unfortunately in Roger Steel's case, he didn't make it through that process.
"Andrew Rule would have got through but, unfortunately, he made the decision to stand down. They have not had an easy job being a group of two Conservative councillors against 50 Labour members so I would like to thank them for their hard work both for the party and the city."
The upcoming elections will see all 55 of Nottingham City Council's wards up for grabs, with the Labour Party currently holding 50 of them alongside the two Conservative seats and three which were won by the Nottingham Independents. The elections are taking place across Nottinghamshire, with votes also taking place for all of the county's seven district and borough councils.
The Conservative Party has already selected Daniel Atherton and Dr Aamir Nawaz to stand against Cllr Rule and Cllr Steel in Clifton West. All the parties vying for victory in the May 4 elections are currently choosing candidates, with those wishing to stand facing a deadline of 4pm on April 4 to submit their nomination papers.
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