The two Councillors believed to have quit the party today Thursday [January 23] are Becki Bruneau, who was made Leader of the party just before Christmas, and Christian Atwood, son of Robert Atwood, a former Chairman of the Alliance who was previously a Conservative Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Both Councillors represent Park ward.
Chairman Robert Chris is understood to have stepped down last week.
Cllr Bruneau told the Times: “I have not stepped down, I have merely gone Independent. I will continue working for my lovely residents and retailers, something I have done since day one.”
The Alliance was formed in 2017 and was registered as a political party in 2018 just before the local elections in which Nicholas Pope won their first seat for Park Ward.
Last May, the Alliance managed to secure another five Councillors, ousting both Cllr David Jukes, the then Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, and Tracy Moore, a key proponent of the Council’s theatre project.
However, following last October’s decision by Full Council to abandon Calverley Square despite taxpayers having already spent £10.6million on the project, the Alliance has found itself under pressure amid accusations it was a one-issue party.
During the Culverden by-election last November the party could only manage fourth.
The party now only has four Councillors on the 48-seat Council.
More to follow ….
