Arun Councillor Quits LibDems, Becomes Independent

“We need to put aside party politics and work together in the interest of our residents.”

This was the message from Arun district councillor Emily Seex as she announced her decision to quit the Liberal Democrats and work as an Independent.

Ms Seex, who was elected in 2019 and represents the River Ward, said the council needed to rethink its priorities, putting regeneration, jobs and making sure people have a roof over their heads first

She said:

“Everything else is secondary to these core needs.”

Ms Seex is chairman of the Littlehampton Regeneration sub-committee, which is responsible for developing and implementing initiatives and projects to help promote economic growth in the town.

The scheme has been going for a number of years, with mixed levels of success, and Ms Seex called on the council to take a firmer stance on getting things done — even if that meant borrowing money.

She said:

“We need to focus the council’s resources on meaningful regeneration – regeneration that creates jobs and brings wealth to support businesses.

“In order to invest in regeneration we need to be open to borrowing money for building new facilities, to achieve long-term improvement in our residents’ economic prospects.

“We need to be clear on what we want, not passively awaiting a developer to present something we like.”

Arun’s council meetings have become notorious for being heated, often bad-tempered, with members of the two main political parties regularly at loggerheads.

Announcing her decision to jump ship and become independent, she added:

“In order to be part of the solution to the politics, I have left the Arun Liberal Democrat group and would urge all my colleagues, of every political persuasion, to support a programme of regeneration.

“Let’s set a clear course forward together, so we aren’t again looking at lovely illustrations that don’t come to fruition. Let’s start now.”

Shaun Gunner, leader of the Conservatives, said Ms Seex’s decision was ‘devastating’ for the Liberal Democrats but showed ‘extraordinary leadership and courage of her convictions’.

Mr Gunner, who is also a member of the regeneration sub-committee, said he shared her frustrations when it came to delivering what was needed, adding:

“Cllr Seex is absolutely right that we need a council that is focused and decisive.

“We don’t have that now. I have publicly called for the same thing from the Liberal Democrat-run council, and for them to face up to the difficult decisions they are avoiding.

“Sadly, their focus has been on spending money on committee meetings and webcams, when they need to be concentrating on the people and businesses of this district.”

Ms Seex’s decision means the council is now made up of 21 Conservatives, 18 Liberal Democrats, a total of 11 Independents, two Greens and one Labour councillor.