Newsflash... SKIPP was informed at the weekend that Conservative Councillor for Belfairs ward Stephen Aylen, has been deselected by the Conservative party as their candidate for Belfairs in May’s local elections.

Cllr Aylen’s only offence was being a good ward councillor by putting the views and concerns of his ward constituents above those of the Party.

He was deselected by the Belfairs Conservative committee in August; however, in an act of pure cowardice on the part of the Committee, he was only informed of the decision on Thursday of last week.

The party has yet to announce the name of their new candidate for the seat, however, it seems obvious to all concerned that he has be forced out to make way for the former St Luke’s Councillor who was comprehensively defeated in last May’s election,  Anna Waite.

Cllr Aylen has indicated to SKIPP that he intends to stand as an Independent Conservative in the forthcoming elections. We hope that the residents of Belfairs will see through the dirty tricks of the Conservative party and return Stephen as Councillor for Belfairs in May.

The SKIPP Committee

Patsy Link

Sheena Walker

Mark Sharp