New Tory councillor defends her move

7:02am Sunday 3rd June 2007

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NEW Conservative city councillor Tia MacGregor has revealed how she thought about quitting and calling a by-election - just days after joining the party.

Mrs MacGregor and Paul Sargent became the first Tories on Oxford City Council since 2000 when they completed their defection from the Liberal Democrats via the Independent Group.

The move sparked controversy with many - including city council leader and the duo's former group leader John Goddard - calling for the pair to stand in a by-election in order to seek a mandate from their electorate.

Now the 39-year-old GP has told how she battled with her conscience - and defended her decision to jump ship.

The mother-of-two said: "That was my first thought.

"I had considered it but I have had so much positive feedback - no one has set my house on fire. Yet.

"One chap said he had never voted Conservative in his life but was going to now.

"I think it was the right decision (but) there should have been a better way to do it.

"It wasn't a step I took lightly and I have told people I am carrying on working for them and am out there doing the job.

"The nasty stuff has come from websites - the one comment that really upset me was 'careerist scum'."

Mrs MacGregor and Mr Sargent are the first Tory representatives at the Town Hall since Barbara Burgess was elected in 2000.

They now have a year in which to convince voters in their respective Carfax and Quarry & Risinghurst wards they should be re-elected.

When Dr MacGregor, 39, quit the Lib Dems earlier this year she said the party "was no longer working for her".

Asked if she was confident of winning the Quarry & Risinghurst election next year she said: "I think it's probably more likely than if I stood as an independent."

Tory leader and Witney MP David Cameron said the defection would herald a new dawn for the party in Oxford and beyond.

However, the Conservatives are the smallest group on the city council - half the size of the Independent Working Class Association - and need to win at least another 23 seats for an outright majority.

However, at next year's elections just half the city council's 48 seats are up for grabs.

Mr Goddard said: "These two calling themselves Conservatives have no credibility as Conservatives.

"They should now, at once, resign and stand in a by-election - I challenge these turncoats to do that.

"Their failure to do so would prove they dare not face the electors.

"Let's have some honesty and integrity from our politicians, including local ones."