A Lib Dem councillor has written to local residents to ask whether she should leave her party and join Labour in protest at the formation of the Coalition.

A Liberal Democrat councillor in Barnsley has written to local residents to ask whether she should leave her party and join Labour in protest at the formation of the Coalition.

In a joint letter to residents of Dearne South, a ward in Barnsley Borough Metropolitan Council, Councillor Sharron Brook and defeated candidate in the recent local elections, Sarah Brook, write:

“The main reason that we are writing to you is to ask you what you would like us to do, seeing as the Liberal Democrats have chosen to form a coalition with the Conservatives, never considering the people in the deprived north. This will not make any difference to how we work for you within Barnsley Council and our villages. “We are ashamed, as you are, of what the National Lib Dems have done in joining the Conservatives. Since 1964 I have had faith in the Liberals thinking they were principled, perhaps they were in years gone by but not after this election.”

The letter ends by setting out that:

“There are three alternative ways to choose and would you please let us know your wishes: 1. Go it alone 2. Join the Labour party 3. Stay as a Liberal Democrat”

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