Lib Dem councillor resigns over child porn arrest

A LIBERAL Democrat council leader has resigned after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

Derek Osbourne was leader of Kingston upon Thames council. Picture: Getty

Councillor Derek Osbourne, who has been leader of Kingston upon Thames since 2003, was arrested by police on Tuesday.

The new acting leader of Kingston Council said the local Liberal Democrat group were “deeply shocked” by the arrest.

“Derek Osbourne has resigned from the Liberal Democrat Group, “ Councillor Liz Green wrote on the Kingston Borough Liberal Democrat website.

“We are deeply shocked by these allegations but I am unable to comment further as we must now allow the police the time and space they need to investigate the allegations thoroughly and without prejudice.”

According to the London Councils’ website, Osbourne was first elected as a councillor in 1986 before becoming leader between 1997 and 1998, and again in 2003.

He was parliamentary candidate for Kingston upon Thames in 1992 fighting the then Chancellor Norman Lamont.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a 59-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday at an address in Kingston, on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

He was taken into custody at a south London police station and bailed to a date in August.