Derbyshire Tory suspended for criticising care home cuts

A Conservative county councillor who criticised his own party’s plans to potentially close council-run care homes and day centres across Derbyshire has been suspended.

Nigel Gourlay said he “would not have voted for his own party” if he had known the proposals would be put forward.

An email from the party’s parliamentary group leader, seen by the BBC on Friday, confirmed his suspension from the Conservative group.

Mr Gourlay said: “This is to help keep other Conservative MPs whose care homes are threatened with closure in line.”

The councillor, who now sits as an independent, spoke at a meeting earlier this week in favour of a Labour opposition motion to investigate the impact of Derbyshire County Council’s plans.

He raised concerns about the future of the Eccles Fold Resource Centre, which provides day care for people with dementia, and the Whitestone care home, both in Chapel-en-le-Frith.