Stoke-on-Trent Conservatives have today announced that another councillor has joined their group on Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Councillor Candi Chetwynd left the Labour Group on the authority back in May, and has today been revealed as the latest councillor to join the Conservatives, taking the group up to 21.
Cllr Chetwynd cited the positive changes being made to the City since the Conservatives began running the council as a minority administration last August as one of the main reasons for her joining the Conservatives.
Cllr Chetwynd is the fifth Councillor to join the local Conservatives in the past ten months, and the second to leave Labour.
Conservative Member of Parliament for Stoke North, Jonathan Gullis, has welcomed Candi to the local party, “Candi joins the superb team of local hard working Conservative Councillors in Stoke-on-Trent North.
“I know Candi will continue to be a champion of the Norton Heights and Smallthorne community as a Conservative Councillor and I look forward to working together on local causes.
“Stoke-on-Trent Conservatives have shown since becoming leaders of the council in 2019 that we have a positive clear vision for what our future could be, laid out on the Stoke-on-Trent prospectus. We have secured £29 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, 560 new jobs from the Home Office, and delivered gigabit to the city, ensuring we can be at the heart of the digital revolution.
“One thing is for sure, Stoke-on-Trent Labour continues to show a poverty of aspiration for our great city, talking this city down at every opportunity it gets. Labour no longer represents the core values of our residents. Hard work, strong communities and delivering a better future for our children; these are our Conservative values. It is great to see Candi wanting to be part of the positive change we are delivering for Stoke-on-Trent.”
Cllr Chetwynd commented that over the past eighteen months she has seen how the local Labour Party has put party politics above the needs of residents.
“Labour has a very negative view of Stoke-on-Trent. Instead of helping improve our city, they have actively encouraged a policy of neglect and ignorance.”
“I could not in good conscious continue to be a member of such a group who do not want to deliver positive change for my residents.”
“I have not changed as a person since leaving Labour, I simply realised that if I want to achieve what residents elected me to do, I needed to be a part of the team that is delivering for our city. The only team with a positive view and plan for Stoke-on-Trent is the Conservative team,” commented Candi.
Council leader Abi Brown said that Candi will be a welcome addition to the Conservative group.
“We’re delighted that Candi has joined the Conservative group on Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Our central focus is working to create a better Stoke-on-Trent, and over the last 6 years, we’ve shown how with hardwork, determination and compassion, it’s possible to turn around the negative stereotype of our city, bring forward regeneration, improve services for the most vulnerable, and deliver good value for money services for residents. Candi has a strong reputation for standing up for her residents, and will be a welcome addition to the team that is delivering positive change for our city.”
