Councillor quits over Trump 'witch hunt'

Published on Wednesday 19 November 2008 09:54

A POLITICIAN who opposed Donald Trump's £1 billion golf resort said today she had resigned from her party claiming she was the victim of a "witch-hunt".

Debra Storr was one of the councillors who opposed the US tycoon's plans for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

Mr Trump's plans for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses were rejected by a council committee last year before being called in by the Scottish Government and approved earlier this month.

Ms Storr said the "increasingly intolerant and illiberal" attitude of the Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council had forced her to quit.

Her decision came after the Lib Dem group met on Monday to consider having her removed.

She said: "With regret I have decided that I no longer wish to be part of the Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council.

"The behaviour of the group's leadership has become increasingly intolerant and illiberal over the past year as it has pursued a relentless witch-hunt against councillors who were within their rights to vote with their conscience on the Menie planning application.

"The last straw for me was the group's decision to consider excluding me for defending the liberal principle of 'innocent until proved otherwise'."

She said she was unable to attend Monday's meeting, and despite her requests was not informed of the outcome.

She added: "This treatment is intolerable, disrespectful, undemocratic and well beyond the bounds of civilised behaviour."

Ms Storr, who was one of four councillors speaking against the plans at a public inquiry earlier this year, said she would continue as councillor for Ellon and District.