Former Green mayor defects to Lib Dems in North Yorkshire

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 18:39 · Archive

Ian Conlan, former Mayor of Malton, has defected from the Green Party to the Liberal Democrats ahead of May 2027 local elections.

Ian Conlan, who served as Mayor of Malton for three years, has defected from the Green Party to the Liberal Democrats and announced he will stand as a candidate in the May 2027 local elections.

The Liberal Democrats, currently the largest opposition group on North Yorkshire Council, are aiming to take control of the Conservative-led authority. The council has 90 councillors with no group holding an overall majority. The Conservative and Independents group holds 44 seats, the Liberal Democrats and Liberals 14, Labour 10, the Greens and Independents eight, North Yorkshire Independents seven, and Reform UK five.

Conlan, an environmental campaigner involved in the county's 20's Plenty campaign, said the Lib Dems offered the best opportunity to deliver change. He cited fairer school transport, better active travel policies and greater community influence over planning decisions as priorities. He criticised his former party, saying he had 'been frustrated by the direction of the Green Party of late; it's simply not the caring party I joined in 2015'.

How it is being reported

• Former Green mayor defects to Lib Dems ahead of local elections in North YorkshireLiberal Democrats on North Yorkshire Council say they are aiming to take control of the authority in next May's elections as they welcomed a former Green Party mayor into their ranks.Darlington & Stockton Times · 31 Oct, 17:30
• Former Green mayor defects to Lib Dems ahead of local elections in North YorkshireLiberal Democrats on North Yorkshire Council say they are aiming to take control of the authority in next May's elections as they welcomed a former Green Party mayor into their ranks.The Northern Echo · 31 Oct, 17:30

In this story: Ian Conlan · Liberal Democrats · Green Party · North Yorkshire Council · Malton · North Yorkshire

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