Politics
Stockport Council has 63 elected members, belonging to three different parties. The largest party, and the ruling party is the Liberal Democrat party, which has 36 of the 63 seats. In the council elections on Thursday 1 May 2008, in which one third of the seats were up for re-election, there were two main changes. In the Cheadle & Gatley ward, incumbent councillor Paul Carter of the Liberal Democrat party lost his seat to the Conservative candidate Mick Jones. Similarly in the Brinnington and Central Ward, Labour councillor Maureen Rowles lost her seat to the Liberal Democrat candidate Christian Walker. However, a short time after this election, he chose to serve as an Independent Councillor, then returned to the Liberal Democrats, then declared himself Independent again.
During 2009, which was supposed to be a "fallow year" (one without elections), there were three by-elections following the deaths of serving councillors. Subsequently, Labour Councillor Anne Graham joined the Liberal Democrat group, bringing them to 36 Councillors of 63.
On 2 February 2011, Councillors David White, Roy Driver and Anne Graham all resigned from the Liberal Democrat Group following Councillor White's suspension from the Group. All three cited unhappiness with the national party's involvement with a "Tory-led" government. They became Independent Councillors awaiting the result of membership applications to the Labour Party and subsequently joined the Labour Group. Roy Driver was not selected for a seat in the May 2011 elections but may contest a seat for Labour in May 2012.
On 21st January 2012, Patrick McAuley, Labour Councillor for Manor since May 2011, announced on Tiwtter that he had resigned from the Labour party, but that he would continue to serve as a councillor.
Read more about this topic: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
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