Resignation rumours spark panic amongst city's Lib Dem chiefs

Published on Friday 12 June 2009 10:10

LIBERAL Democrat leaders in Edinburgh had to ring Germany to check they were still in control of the city after rumours that one of their backbenchers was to quit.

Word spread like wildfire through the City Chambers that Joanna Coleman, councillor for Sighthill/Gorgie, had sent an e-mail to colleagues threatening to resign from the Lib Dem group to sit as an independent.

The move would risk toppling the Lib Dem-SNP coalition which has run the Capital for the past two years but relies on the casting vote of the Lord Provost.

Lib Dem leaders insist they have seen no such e-mail. But group chairwoman Elaine Morris said they had decided to phone Cllr Coleman, who is on holiday in Germany, over the rumours.

She said: "She denies any wish to become an independent and is firmly committed to the Lib Dems."

It is understood the rumours were sparked by Cllr Coleman's unhappiness at a bid by former councillor Tom Ponton to make a political comeback by standing as the Lib Dem candidate in Chancellor Alistair Darling's Edinburgh South West seat at the next General Election.

Cllr Coleman's husband Ian had been chosen as the candidate but stood down last year because of work commitments. Mr Ponton said he was approached by local party members to stand, but Lib Dem insiders say Cllr Coleman has also shown an interest in the seat.

One source said: "Tom has yet to be approved by headquarters and then a sub-committee of the local party would interview him to decide whether he should be the candidate. Joanna did express an interest in being the candidate, but she has quite a lot of commitments – she is on the licensing board and the regulatory committee and she is doing a degree at university."

Another source said Cllr Coleman's heavy workload at the council was a further source of discontent, feeding the speculation.

Cllr Morris said: "It has been bandied around in several quarters that she may become an independent councillor. She is denying all knowledge of it.

"As far as I'm aware she has no issue with us. She has not raised any concerns with the group.

"Whether she has an issue about the South West candidacy I don't know."

Cllr Coleman did not return calls to her mobile from the Evening News.

But her husband insisted the rumours were unfounded.

He said: "Joanna is a deeply loyal Liberal Democrat member."

Asked about Mr Ponton's bid to become the party's candidate in South West, he said: "Whatever her feelings about that there is no suggestion of leaving the group."

He said his wife had not applied to become a parliamentary candidate, but she had not ruled out such a move.