"NO SPLIT" CLAIM AS WOLVO TORY LEADER QUITS

19-03-2008

The acting head of Wolverhampton’s opposition Conservative party has denied the party is split – despite the resignation of leader Paddy Bradley, who has stood down after six years. An election to choose her replacement will be held tonight.

In the interim, Cllr Joan Stevenson is holding the fort, and she scoffs at suggestions that there are deep divisions with the city’s Tories.

“To hear some people you’d think there was a deep schism, like something you got in the Church of England a few years ago, but it’s really not like that” she said.

“There are always mutterings in any political party, and that’s how you move forward, but the truth is that Paddy has just had enough.

“She’s been doing it for six years, and these days there’s so much bureaucracy, there’s no time for anything else.

“She has a large family and wants to spend more time enjoying that, but it’s not as though she’s standing down as a councillor.

“She’ll now have more time to spend looking after her ward.”

Stevenson, the deputy leader, said she won’t be putting herself forward to replace Bradley and when asked about the contenders she was adamant that “wild horses wouldn’t drag it from me.”

The Conservatives are the second party in Wolverhampton, with 19 seats compared to Labour’s 36, but made gains last May and will be hoping for more progress in this year’s elections.