By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire County Councillor says he considers his suspension from the Conservative party to be a ‘liberation’ after he stood against a Tory candidate in the general election.
Councillor Dr John Doddy ran against Darren Henry, the Conservative candidate for MP for Broxtowe, in the July 4 vote.
After his candidacy was revealed he was suspended from the party pending a disciplinary investigation.
The representative for Stapleford and Broxtowe Central ward is now sitting on Nottinghamshire County Council as unaligned with any group.
He was also stripped of his prominent role as chair of the Conservative-led council’s Health and Wellbeing Board.
He told the first full council meeting since the General Election that he would reapply to be a Conservative.
“An opportunity existed to not only be chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board but bring the message to the population – to go door to door and talk about what they wanted,” he said.
“That opportunity that was too attractive for me to pass up on.
“I will soon be a doctor of 40 years. I have learnt that if we give people what we want instead of what they actually need, that creates the need for change.
“I went door-to-door as an independent, not as an anti-Conservative, not a member of the Independent or Labour group but ally of the population.
“The report says Dr Doddy is suspended – I take it more as a liberation. I am free to be a champion of health and wellbeing of Nottinghamshire.”
Cllr Dr Doddy came sixth in the Broxtowe election with 2.2 per cent of the vote, with Labour candidate Juliet Campbell taking the seat.
He is a long-standing councillor, having served since 2012 and won four successive elections in his ward as a Conservative.
Cllr Bethan Eddy (Con) has been chosen as the next chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board, having served as Vice Chair of the separate Health Scrutiny Committee for three years.
Cllr Dr Doddy addressed her directly at the meeting, saying: “When I was elected in 2012, the chair was taken from people in public health and medicine, not politicians. But politicians have now taken over.”
He urged her to “Hold people’s feet to the fire” as chair.
Councillor Steve Carr (Ind) bemoaned the loss of Cllr Dr Doddy in the role, saying: “You brought immense knowledge and immense experience to the role. It’s a sad day.”
Councillor Chris Barnfather, the Conservative Group Business Manager, remarked tongue-in-cheek that the role of Chief Whip would be much easier now Cllr Doddy isn’t currently part of the party.
The current political composition leaves the Conservatives with a majority of two, holding 34 of the 66 seats at the council.
