Our efforts in Shropshire have not gone unnoticed.
I’m absolutely delighted to welcome former Labour Mayor and MP candidate Jon Tandy to the Liberal Democrat ranks in Shrewsbury.
We met in Harlescott yesterday to welcome Jon to the team. 👇https://t.co/ohgTDLDJjb
— Cllr Alex Wagner 🔨🟦🔶 (@alex__wagner__) August 10, 2022
This week former Labour Mayor and parliamentary candidate for Shrewsbury joined the Lib Dems and was welcomed by local councillor Alex Wagner.
From Shropshire Live:
Jon Tandy said: “I was a Labour Councillor for 16 years, and served Shrewsbury as Mayor. I even ran to be our Labour MP. Joining another party is not a decision I take lightly, and has played on my mind for some time.
“Ultimately, the Labour Party I joined 35 years ago is gone. The influence of Corbyn and Momentum is still present like a nasty hangover, especially in Shrewsbury and Atcham. I can’t sit by and stick with them when there are other strong alternatives locally.
I’m born and bred in Shrewsbury, I love this town. The Liberal Democrats are providing the community leadership that we need to keep making Shrewsbury a better place to live for everyone. They really care about our town, and I’m going to be backing the Lib Dems all the way to win votes and seats from both the Tories and Labour.”
Councillor Alex Wagner welcomed Jon Tandy to the party at a meeting in Harlescott yesterday. He said: “Having someone with Jon’s experience and talent decide to join the Liberal Democrats is a huge boost to us locally. It is a real honour to welcome him to the party, and I cannot wait to see what he has in store next. “Jon’s campaigning record is second to none, and I know he’s already getting stuck in, working hard and holding local leadership to account in his local community in Harlescott.”
Welcome to the Lib Dems, Jon!



2 Comments
Jon Tandy……“Ultimately, the Labour Party I joined 35 years ago is gone. The influence of Corbyn and Momentum is still present like a nasty hangover, especially in Shrewsbury and Atcham. I can’t sit by and stick with them when there are other strong alternatives locally……
How many of us have enjoyed the party and forsworn such things with the subsequent hangover?
Perhaps LDV could run a “Where are they now?” for previous high profile defectors; Chuka Umunna,Siobhan Benita, Sam Gyimah, et al?
I’m struggling to see why this person has joined the LD’s other than to stay in local politics? Community leaders who care about the town could also describe the local religious center, parts of the local football club, local foodbanks etc. so why the LD’s over any of those?
At the moment Ed Davey is providing more radical solutions to energy crisis than Labour party who have cross-over with what Boris eventually did and Rishi is saying he’ll do. On this era-defining issue Momentum probably feel closer to the LD’s than Labour.