What Iain Dale asks is this, "how on earth can an experienced councillor like Steven Jones claim that he signed the nomination papers "as a mistake"?". However, Iain Dale has got into the habit of misquoting people lately. The truth is, that Ian Barnes not Steve Jones made the statement, and it did not refer to Steve Jones signing the papers by mistake, rather that by doing so he had made an error of judgement. Therefore the papers were signed deliberately not "as a mistake".
Three strikes and you're out.
Going.
Steve Jones resigns as Council Group Leader
12.43.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Apr 2007
Steve Jones, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Darlington Borough Council, last night (Wednesday, April 18th) resigned as Group Leader. This follows an emergency meeting of local party officers and councillors in the wake of our discovery that Cllr Jones signed the nomination papers of a BNP candidate in North Road ward.
Our Chair, Ian Barnes, last night issued the following statement:
"Councillor Jones made an error of judgement in signing the nomination
papers of an opposition candidate. He has assured Darlington Liberal
Democrats that he has absolutely no sympathy for the policies of the BNP
and will continue to work for and support the local Liberal Democrats.
In view of his unfortunate mistake, Councillor Jones has resigned as Leader
of the Liberal Democrat Group."
Because the date at which candidature for the local Council can be withdrawn has passed, it has not been possible to withdraw Cllr Jones' name from the ballot paper. He will appear on the ballot paper as a Liberal Democrat, though this candidature is no longer supported by the Liberal Democrats.
Going.
Cllr Steve Jones suspended from Liberal Democrats
8.37.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Apr 2007
Following yesterday's sacking of Steve Jones as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Darlington Borough Council, the national Party today took the step which was not open to us as a local party - that of suspending Cllr Jones from the Liberal Democrats.
Cllr Jones has the right to appeal against this suspension, but the failure of this appeal would lead to his permanent expulsion from the party.
As stated earlier, the local party had sought to withdraw Cllr Jones' name from the ballot paper for the local elections, but the deadline for withdrawal had passed. Cllr Jones' name will appear on the ballot paper as a Liberal Democrat, but without the support of the party or his former colleagues in the ward.
Mike Barker and Fred Lawton will continue to campaign for election to the Council as Liberal Democrats for North Road ward.
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Thu 19th Apr 2007:
Steve Jones resigns as Council Group Leader.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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