Cllr Ron Spellen and his wife Nena with their Liberal Democrat membership cards

Long-time Labour member and councillor Ron Spellen, currently Chairman of Three Rivers District Council, has left the Labour Party and joined the Liberal Democrats. Ron will defend his seat at May’s local elections as a Liberal Democrat.

The former Labour group leader and representative for Northwick ward, South Oxhey for many years, said “Today’s Labour Party is not the party I joined fifty years ago. It is now the Liberal Democrats who represent what I came into local politics to achieve – a determined effort to protect local people, promote their interests and consult with them about local issues. Three Rivers Liberal Democrats have always put the needs and wishes of residents priority over party politics.

Councillor Spellen admitted that he had been pushed out of the Labour Party, having received a letter from the regional Labour Party saying he no longer met the criteria for a Labour councillor. He said, “They said they didn’t have a use for me anymore. I feel I still have a lot more use left in me for the residents of Three Rivers. It feels as though a burden has been lifted from me. The negative attitude of the Labour party has been weighing me down. I have not left the Labour Party; the Labour Party has left me.

“I have lived in South Oxhey for more than 30 years and, having been deeply involved in the local community here, know the area and its residents very well. I look forward to fighting the local elections in May as a Liberal Democrat. I am confident that many local people will recognize my service as a councillor and support me”.

Councillor Spellen made it clear that he was moving to the Liberal Democrats because of the way the party had run the council for the past 17 years. However he was happy to comment on the national political picture, saying “The government have a difficult job to do as a result of the mess left by the previous labour government, and I think they are doing a good job under difficult circumstances. But I’m not moving because of the government, I’m a local politician and I am motivated by doing what I believe is best for the people of South Oxhey.” Ron’s wife Nena, also a former Labour group leader and Chairman of the council, has also joined the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Ann Shaw, Liberal Democrat leader of Three Rivers District Council, said, “Ron has always worked tremendously hard to represent the residents of South Oxhey. This year he has served the council well as its Chairman. We welcome Ron to the Liberal Democrat group and look forward to working together”.