I WOULD like to point out to Charles Johnson, the Cleveland and Darlington Conservative Party chairman, (HAS, Sep 14) that the ex-Liberal Democrat Martin Jones has never been a member of Durham County Council. He is an existing member of Spennymoor Town Council, where he will now be an independent.

Martin did indicate to me a few months ago that he would not be standing at the next town elections and he wrote thanking me for supporting him during the past 17 years.

The public would have preferred him to stay as a Lib Dem councillor until the May 2013 local elections.

I would like to thank Martin for supporting my jobs motion at the northern Lib Dem conference, at a time when we lost thousands of manufacturing jobs in Spennymoor and the surrounding area. Incidentally, this was during the last period of the Labour Government. I would also like to thank him for his assistance as a branch officer.

I must point out that the coalition was formed at a time of economic crisis and, due to a massive overspend and a banking crisis during Labour’s last administration, some unpopular decisions had to be made. Coupled with the changes caused by the county becoming a unitary local authority, it has not been an easy time for local councillors.

I am very disappointed that another five Lib Dem Councillors have also resigned in a orchestrated move to form an independent group. I ask, how can a councillor be independent and be in a group? I am a founder member of the Liberal Democrat Party, since 1988. I intend to carry on representing local people, until May 2013, as a Lib Dem and campaigning for more jobs, lower council tax, efficiency savings and a cleaner environment.

I have also agreed to work with Councillor Kevin Thompson, for the good of local people, at Durham County Council.

Lib Dem councillor Ben Ord, Spennymoor.