By-election victor angered by

THE decision to strip a councillor of office just three months after he won a by-election has been described as "lacking democratic integrity".

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Tim Payne, who won a Pennsylvania seat in May, has expressed his anger and confusion at the decision which followed a High Court ruling.

As the Echo reported, the 54-year-old lecturer at Exeter College was in the group of 13 city councillors, including two party leaders, who lost their seats when Exeter's unitary bid was ruled unlawful.

Their terms had been extended for a year while the unitary issue was being resolved as it had been anticipated that there would need to be a fresh set of elections for a new Exeter unitary authority next May.

These elections will come at a cost of around Pounds 80,000 and a date is yet to be set. The decision was made in the High Court last week.

But Mr Payne also lost his seat having only served since May 6 when he won a by-election.

He said: "I believe that the local election on May 6 was legitimate and had democratic integrity.

The people of Pennsylvania and Stoke Hill, of which I am one, came out Cheap Jordan Shoes in good faith and voted.

"This had nothing to do with the ongoing discussions about the rightness or wrongness of the unitary bid, which I consider to be more about national party politics than the interests of local people.

"It is difficult to understand and to accept that having been elected I am now told that I am no longer a city councillor.

"I had begun to develop good working relationships with other councillors, of all parties, and with the city council staff. I hope to continue this as I hope to be selected by the local Liberal Democrat group and to stand for re-election.

He added: "I am angry that my neighbours and friends who voted in good faith are being denied their elected voice.

"At a time when we have to manage our Ring Style finances carefully it seems ridiculous to spend more money on an election in Pennsylvania that has already taken place."

A spokesman for the city council explained that the byelection was also ruled to be illegal due to the unitary bid.

He said: "We understand that, due to the ongoing unitary process, we were technically unable to stage by-elections until that situation had been resolved.

"Therefore, unfortunately, Mr Payne also lost his seat along with the councillors whose terms should have ended."

The city council is in the process of submitting its application for emergency elections.

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