A CONSERVATIVE council leader has said he would rather another party represented Bridgwater and West Somerset in Parliament than have MP Ian Liddell-Grainger re-elected.

The comments came after West Somerset Council Conservatives sent a 125-page dossier to the Prime Minister outlining the “destructive behaviour” of Bridgwater and West Somerset’s Tory MP Mr Liddell-Grainger.

The dossier is made up of emails, letters and newspaper cuttings from a “variety of sources”, including councillors and members of the public, about the MP’s behaviour.

West Somerset Council leader Tim Taylor told the Mercury the reason he drew up the dossier was because Mr Liddell-Grainger’s conduct was “divisive”and “unsupportive”.

When asked by the Mercury who he would like to see elected instead of Mr Liddell-Grainger, he said: “I’d like to see someone who will represent West Somerset regardless of their party label, even if it means the [Bridgwater and West Somerset] MP is from another party for the next five years and then the Conservatives take the seat back.

“It’s not about party loyalty – I put my principles before petty politics.”

In January, the Mercury reported how West Somerset councillors had passed a vote of no confidence in the MP and was calling for him to be deselected, but Julie Nicholson, chairman of the Bridgwater & West Somerset Conservative Associtation, said she had “every confidence in him [Mr Liddell-Grainger]”.

West Somerset councillor Keith Turner, who supports Cllr Taylor said that if the dossier is not successful in “kicking him [Mr Liddell-Grainger] out” he will “take his campaign to the polling station”.

He said: “For the first time since I was able to vote I will not be voting Conservative if the person representing them is Ian Liddell-Grainger.

“He has done nothing positive for West Somerset.”

The dossier has also been sent to Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps and Conservative chief whip Michael Gove.

In it, Cllr Taylor describes Mr Liddell-Grainger as a “disgrace to the Conservative Party” and West Somerset Council “deserves greater support from the . . . Bridgwater and West Somerset Conservative Association.”

Andy Lewis, West Somerset Labour branch secretary, said: “The examples cited above show Liddell-Grainger has been actively harmful to West Somerset over issues that affect everyone living here.

“If he’d had his way West Somerset Council would have been ‘evaporated’.

“The conclusion to be reached is that we need an MP who would work properly for West Somerset and councillors with an ethos of public service.”

Dr Ian Rix, a Cossington resident, agrees with the action taken by West Somerset Conservatives.

He said: “I’ve sent 15 letters to the MP over the past year and have never even received an acknowledgment.

“I think they might be right. There are plenty of other candidates willing to represent the constituency better than he can.”

Edward Wilkins, 72, who lives in Wembdon, said: “I’ve written to the MP about an issue to do with prescriptions that is very important to me and I’ve been chasing him up as I’ve never even received an acknowledgment.

“The last time I saw him was when he was canvassing for the last General Election. Where has he been?

“They need to get rid of him.”

Mr Liddell Grainger said: “I’ve not seen the document. A copy has not been sent to my office or my home.

“The [Conservative] Party has made their position quite clear on this matter. As far as I’m concerned this case is shut.”

The dossier includes:

  • Mr Liddell-Grainger’s attempts to “destabilise the partnership project” between West Somerset Council and Taunton Deane Council.
  • Attempts to turn Sedgemoor District Council and West Somerset Council against each other.
  • Claims of lack of support from the MP regarding the relationship between West Somerset Council and EDF.
  • Inaccurate comments by Mr Liddell-Grainger in the Mercury’s coverage of the “airbrushing incident”.
  • “Mistruths” in the media.