Norfolk County councillor Philip Hardy, who has defected to the Conservatives.

Green leader at Norfolk County Council defects to Conservatives

by DAN GRIMMER Monday, December 19, 2011
5:30 PM

The leader of the Green group at Norfolk County Council has defected to the Conservatives, saying he had found himself increasingly isolated in his former party.

Philip Hardy, who was elected to serve Norwich’s Thorpe Hamlet division in 2009, said it has been a “very difficult decision” to make the switch to the ruling Tory group at County Hall.

But he said he had increasingly found himself more in tune with the policies and actions of the Conservative Party.

He said: “This has been a very difficult decision to make but I feel it is the right one for me. I’ve found myself alone on a growing number of issues of late within the Green Party.

“For instance, I have strongly supported the need for a credible deficit reduction plan since the US lost their triple A credit rating. This has been further reinforced by anxieties over the French economy in the last few weeks.

“I share David Cameron’s vision for a modernised NHS, which I believe will make it fit for the 21st century and I was proud when he inspired the international community to intervene in Libya earlier this year.”

Mr Hardy is currently a member of Norfolk Police Authority and the council’s planning committee - which will have to make a decision on the controversial incinerator at King’s Lynn if the scheme secures PFI funding.

He has recently worked with the Conservative administration on an idea for the council to create an energy services company.

He added: “I wish the Norwich Greens well and I will of course continue to represent everyone within my division on any issues or council-related queries raised with me.”

Mr Hardy’s switch swells the Conservative group at Norfolk County Council to 63 members - the largest any political party has achieved in Norfolk’s history. He is the third councillor to head over to the Conservatives in 2011, following the defections of Liberal Democrat councillors Paul Rice (Smallburgh South) and David Callaby (Fakenham).

Following those defections, Mr Hardy said, on the Norwich Green Party website, that those defections showed why the Greens, not the Liberal Democrats, were the most effective alternative at County Hall.

Derrick Murphy, leader of Norfolk County Council hailed Mr Hardy’s move as a “major coup”. He said: “Philip is a fantastic councillor who has already managed to make Norfolk a better place through his work on the Energy Services Company amongst other projects.

“He is a dynamic, passionate and hard working individual and I am confident he will make an excellent contribution to the Conservative Group at County Hall.

“We have worked out that he is the seventh most senior Green Party politician in the UK and one of the first group leaders in local government to join another political group.”

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106 comments

two defective Philips in the news, ones body has let him down, the others brain has

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Al

Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sometimes fewer is less, Abraham. Or are less....?

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Mad Brewer

Friday, December 23, 2011
Somebody described Hardy boy to me today as being Chartreuse. Brilliant!

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alecto

Friday, December 23, 2011
I would like to congratulate God is a Gas on his creative use of language. His 'Moribund weasel' comment is possibly the finest insult I have seen get past the moderators. God truly moves in mysterious ways and has raised the bar for all the trolls that lurk within this site. Well done

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robotsthatcare

Friday, December 23, 2011
Is this a reflection on the economic crisis - some people have had to sell the souls?

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maryjane

Friday, December 23, 2011
dave123 "bold and sensible decisions" can't really be attributed to the Norfolk Tories either now can they? They are all sleepwalking towards political desolation in 2013 because, as everyone knows, you ignore the electorate at your peril. I would also venture that there is something very familiar about your own arrogant style of writing but I just can't put my finger on it.... you wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Martineau Lane, would you? Hmmm?

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Fenscape

Thursday, December 22, 2011
"Bold and sensible decision". To abandon one's deeply held political beliefs for personal gain and the feeling of popularity. This must a strange new use of the words "bold" and "sensible" that I wasn't previously aware of.

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Yahweh or the Highway

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Don't worry Phil - it appears some people will follow you, regardless of your shift in political opinion. It is almost as if your political allegiance is less important than the strength of your personality and boyish good looks. Dave123 will be right behind you to the end....metaphorically speaking of course....

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Yahweh or the Highway

Thursday, December 22, 2011
God is Gas.You need to spend some time re-educating yourself on Politics.Phil made a bold and sensible decision and decided not to stay with a party that was going backwards....Anyway the chance of the Greens or Labour getting back in are about nil!!

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dave123

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Don't worry Phil - it appears some people will follow you, regardless of your shift in political opinion. It is almost as if your political allegiance is less important than the strength of your personality and boyish good looks. Dave123 will be right behind you to the end....metaphorically speaking of course....

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Yahweh or the Highway

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dave123, I can see you are obviously a supporter of Dave’s actions; therefore I would like to think that you perceive my comments as moronic. After what Dave has done I think it’s fair to say that he is not bothered by anyone’s opinion, especially those who elected him. I am sure there will be plenty within the Conservative Party that will be present to stroke his ego, up until the point he loses his seat at the next election. What I would like to know is not how can he look at his former Green Party members in the eye, but how he can look at himself everyday in the mirror.

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God is a gas

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dont think any of Idiotic stupid comments will bother Phil, Thankfully he was born with intelligence which is more the majority of Morons on here!!

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dave123

Thursday, December 22, 2011
The chances of me voting for this individual have plummeted from extremely unlikely to infinitesimal. However, I really hope he feels less isolated in the Conservative Party. It's a cruel world out there and it's hard to save the planet from complete annihilation when people (from your own party for goodness sake!) aren't enquiring after your welfare on a regular basis.

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Yahweh or the Highway

Thursday, December 22, 2011
The chances of me voting for this individual have plummeted from extremely unlikely to infinitesimal. However, I really hope he feels less isolated in the Conservative Party. It's a cruel world out there and it's hard to save the planet from complete annihilation when people (from your own party for goodness sake!) aren't enquiring after your welfare on a regular basis.

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Yahweh or the Highway

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Conservative right-wing values and caring about the environment? It's chalk 'n' cheese, it sounds like the biggest miss-match since Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood presented the Brit Awards. We could I suppose support him in his pragmatic approach to politics, in which he is seeking power to help further the interests of those people he represents. I would prefer to lambast him for deserting many of the values that those who voted for him still hold. What a complete self-serving, disingenuous, selfish, ego-centric, fame-seeking, misguided, pompous, intellectually moribund weasel.

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God is a gas

Thursday, December 22, 2011
I notice that, rather conveniently, Cllr John Perry-Warnes has just resigned from the Norfolk Police Authority. Can you guess who has been nominated by the Conservative Group in County Hall to replace him? Yes, it is Cllr Phil Hardy, who had just lost his seat on the Norfolk Police Authority since he was the nominee of the Green Group. Did this all happen by chance, or was it all planned a couple of weeks ago? Now Cllr Hardy will not suffer a drop income, but continue to receive about £19k from the council taxpayers.

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John Martin

Thursday, December 22, 2011
dave 123, how about just the 12?, cause yopu don't seem to like anything else but the old Etonian two party systsem that has got us to the brink we are teetering at now. Ever heard the word sustainable and do you know what it means? Its an alien word for the main parties, but essential to our childrens future, think again before you dismiss political choice.

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ingo wagenknecht

Thursday, December 22, 2011
I wonder what Hardy's family think of this? his wifepartner, kids, Mum & Dad? They must have seen him turn from an idealistic caring young man into a hard nosed self serving one over the last however many months. No doubt they stand by him but they must be dissapointed.

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Canary Boy

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Anyone else notice Peter J use the dollar sign infront of 45K, wonder if he works for Cory Wheelabrator?

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Canary Boy

Thursday, December 22, 2011
I think that Peter J underestimates the intelligence of many of the public and their ability to think for themselves. He also expresses his opinion of what types of people are members of the Green Party. One could argue the same of any party really. My point is that if one purports to represent people on the basis of beliefs of particular principles, then if one changes those beliefs one should be responsible to those that elected you. Also; I know only too well the cost of Social Workers and having experience of the latest cuts in Local Government (made redundant though the service I provided is still required and statutary) I am very concerned about the reduction in services but £45k is only enough for 2 social workers for 1 year. We need to sustain services. One could also say that the financial argument is irrelevant as the funding for elections and Social Workers is derived from differing sources and one cannot be used for the other.

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micklynn

Thursday, December 22, 2011
I am reliably informed that the Conservatives last won an election in Thorpe Hamlet (Norwich) in 1977. I don't think Phil will be around the Council chamber for much more than a year.

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EN Heath

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Good move Phil no point in staying with a bunch of tree Huggers! At least the Consevatives offer you a chance to go forwards and not back!

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dave123

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Micklynn - fair enough, I accept that many people use this as the rationale for voting the way that they do. So perhaps the problem is not the politicians, but the inability of the public to use the system properly. You note the "ideals" of the Green Party; but the Green Party's ideals are merely the sum of the parts of those people who are its members. One of the greatest problems the UK has at the moment is the public treating the policies of all political parties as finite; as if they are unable to change. Fact is, the Green Party is a ridiculous mix of right and left-leaning people. Perhaps Cllr. Hardy became disillusioned with this because this lack of ideology would mean that nothing is achieved, and opted to change to a Party where he could better articulate the "ideals" of Greenism, and, as a corollary, the reasons his constituents voted for him. And it's all very well saying "what price democracy" but if the three by-elections that should have happened this year through defections occurred, the public would be out $45K - that's 2 social workers.

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Peter J

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
"Politicians"? Pah, Bumhug.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Popeye. Defect means broken. Defected maybe the past tense. Brocken lots rules in the past. NCC is too close to Tory Wheelabrator.

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Choice

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
......The leader of the Green group at Norfolk County Council has defected to the Conservatives......Can someone on here explain to me what this 'defecting' means in reality? Is it as simple as changing yout tie and making a brief statement to the press, or is there more involved. There doesn't seem to be any contract with the public who voted for him.

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popeye

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Phil Hardy, ex green Cllr. was never a principled green. He has used the electorate and his ex Party to further his own personal career, he is a turncoat who does not deserve to be a councillor unless he resigns and fights the seat for the Conservatives. Swear words could not express what one feels about his self serving attitude.

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ingo wagenknecht

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Phil Hardy, ex green Cllr. was never a principled green. He has used the electorate and his ex Party to further his own personal career, he is a turncoat who does not deserve to be a councillor unless he resigns and fights the seat for the Conservatives. Swear words could not express what one feels about his self serving attitude.

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ingo wagenknecht

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I would also ask; what price democracy?

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micklynn

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Peter J, I agree that I place my cross against an individual but the rationale behind doing so is driven by the ideology of the party of that person. To me his motives are clear as he clearly said this was the best thing for him; not the best thing for his constituents and those who voted for him because of the ideals propounded by his party. Would you vote for someone you liked but who represented views and policies that you found unnaceptable?

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micklynn

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
No micklynn, I'm not telling you how or why you vote; I'm telling you how the system works. First-past-the-post democracy is based on the public voting for the individual. If we had a Proportional Representation system then you would vote for the party, not the individual. This is the way it's been for centuries. I'm not arguing with you about the merits of this case or telling you what to think about Cllr. Hardy; I'm merely saying that under current conditions it's perfectly fine. Remember that every by-election costs, on its own, between £10-£15 thousand, so it wouldn't do to have a system where we have an automatic by-election everytime a politician changed their opinion.

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Peter J

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
All my voting life has been Tory. Same as many of my neighbours. We will be tactical voting at the County elections. MP Liz Truss will get my vote in the general election because she has worked hard for the pro-recycling campaign. If the mass burn incinerator ever gets built, is guaranteed MP Henry Bellingham and Liz Truss will be punished for NCCs arrogant attitude. The 85 mitre stack will be a permanent reminder, never trust the Tories ever again. At the moment Derrick Murphy is gloating he has converted a member of another party to conservatism. The trouble is the bigger you are the harder you fall.

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Gordon Brookes

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
So Peter J you are telling me how and why I vote? I don't think so, no one does. I agree that there is a legal right to cross the floor but that doesn't make it right in my books. To do so without resigning and causing another election is a self serving abuse of the system; in my very, ever so humble, opinion.

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micklynn

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Fenscape, I agree with you that people should be given a chance to air their grievances; I was just pointing out that in legal terms Cllr. Hardy is free to cross the floor. As an individual your views may change, OR, and this is important, the views of your general party may change. Let's face it, the Green Party is a mish-mash of socialists and green conservatives, hence the reason it can never truly become a genuine political party in national terms. So if Cllr. Hardy feels that he can better protect the environment by joining the Tories, then so be it - he now has 18 months to show that to people, and if he doesn't, he can be duly unelected. A change in the law governing elections would be necessary to really change things... or perhaps a move to PR...

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Peter J

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The following was from an article Lynn News 22 march 2011 ANTI-INCINERATOR campaigners and politicians have today welcomed county council moves to delay scrutiny of the controversial Saddlebow scheme until all interested parties have been given sufficient time to study crucial documents. A motion to adjourn the Norfolk county council cabinet scrutiny committee’s discussions of the issue was passed on a casting vote this morning amid extraordinary scenes at County Hall in Norwich. With the vote tied at 8-8, the casting vote of Green councillor Philip Hardy, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of committee chairman Paul Morse, carried the motion. And Mr Hardy pledged that lessons would be learned from the episode. Phil Hardy being a Green Party Councillor at this time would follow his party’s line that incinerators are designed anti-recycling and polluters. I wonder has he been through NCCs brainwashing department yet. This department is fuelled by carrots and false promises.

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Knee deep In Toxic ash

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Energy Services Company (ESCo) would be wholly owned by Norfolk County Council but would operate as an independent company. This how honest Phil & Derrick are linked together. September this year they were taking advantage of solar panels for public buildings like schools until the government had taken the subsidy away. Best to keep doing what they do best “mislead the voters”

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Choice

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Peter J - the fact that you are using a system that lets you exercise your right to express your opinion shows the close connection that morality and democracy shares with legality. I would venture that it is the fact that people's moral compasses are causing them to comment on this issue would be very similar to the same reason most people get into politics in the first place; a need to stand up and be counted. It's a pity that the legal system has got so many holes in it that situations like this can come about in the first place. Ask yourself what Cllr Hardy's motive is and compare it with the motives of people who make comments on his actions... If he truly stood by his original convictions then he could step down, trigger a by-election and see where his newly found allegiances gets him in the eyes of the people. But of course, he won't, because he already knows what the answer will be - the law in this instance is an ass but you, me and everyone else still have a right to comment (or 'lecture') on it as it stands.

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Fenscape

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
As some of the (sadly) ignored people on this message board have tried to point out; in Britain we vote for the person, not the Party. Cllr. Hardy is absolutely within his rights to switch party if he so chooses. If you're going to lecture people on the democratic traditions of the UK, at least gain a basic understanding of them for yourself first. If the people of Thorpe Hamlet don't like his switch; I'm sure they will duly unelect him at the next available opportunity, for this is what democracy is.

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Peter J

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Funny you should say that Fenscape I have heard a little rumour that a certain Tory member of the police authority has just resigned due to ill health, bless him! I wonder what sort of ill health payment he will receive? I think we should see if bookies will take bets on all sorts, like is Murphy taking up residence in America in the not to distant future. How long before Hardy makes police commissioner. When is Mackie going to be led out to the slau gh ter. We could probably end up quids in.

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Canary Boy

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I am willing to bet a million pounds that some old Tory geezer will keel over from ill health in the next 24 hours in order to let this reptile join whatever committee his mate Derrick think's he'll be useful on from here on in.... ie: the usual con!

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Fenscape

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Kismet Hardy? they were the words Nelson whispered to your namesake..Anyhow enough of this triviality what about the Election Expenses paid by Tom Dylan, Norwich Green party election agent, are you going to reimburse those expenses to the Green Party

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LFB

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I don't have an issue with people changing political parties per se, the problem is that councillors and MPs can do it without having to call a by-election. It does seem a bit suspicious that 3 councillors have defected in just a few months, all to the same party. It makes me wonder what these individuals might have been offered in return for defecting. Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in Dioxin Derrick's office right now?!

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sparkle555_2000

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
On 11 November this appeared on the Norwich Green Party's website's News section (it has subsequently "disappeared" but you can still find it by using Google's cache system): "Councillor David Callaby's defection from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives, announced this week, highlights that the LibDems are on the slide in Norfolk and that the Green Party is the most effective alternative at County Hall, says Green Party Councillor Phil Hardy." Talk about pots and kettles!

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Red Steepler

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
When it comes to facing his electors, this turncoat is yellow, not green.

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T Doff

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Typical gutless politician with no core values. No wonder politicians get such bad press.

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EDEN

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Cllr Hardy was elected as a Green Party member and since he has defected, he should resign and face a by-election as a Tory.

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Paul Cunningham

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
He looks very comfortable in his blue tie doesn't he? An early xmas present from Derrick Murphy perhaps.

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popeye

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
the green party success was based on criticising the labour party and now they are out of power they do not really have a view on the tories so seem happy to join them given the failing party !

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Double Bill

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Was thinking about this yesterday evening. Have woken up this morning and I still find it rather shocking. There are many uncertainties here, and this is not good for local democracy. Mr Hardy - if you are not going to resign and face the polls again, please give the Norfolk public your views on NDR, incinerator, Greater Norwich Development Plan.

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Trevor Ashwin

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
and the result of his actions-Norfolk becomes even more of a single party state.

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Peter Watson

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Why do you think the EDP decided this story belonged in the burning issue section? could it be that they view this as Hardy joining Murphy to push the incinerator as a voting member on the development and control board?

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Canary Boy

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I trust Mr Hardy will now be supporting the NDR? Perhaps that's why he switched.

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Fred

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I dont trust any politician, finding them self seeking indivuduals. And I certainly have no affiliation to any party. However I am pleased that there is one less from the Green party on the council. I find them totally patronising and out of touch with the real world.

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Abraham

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
By the way u r all dumb, you are obviously a NCC cabinet member. Go somewhere dark, cold, wet and find a nice comfy stone to crawl under!

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Joy, King's Lynn

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Matthew Davison was the conservative candidate in Hardy's ward, he got 573 votes (19.29%) and was in third place. I wonder how he sees Hardy, if I was him I would be pretty miffed. Hardy as a GREEN got 1371 votes (46.16%) those 1371 voters have every right to be very angry with this judas.

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Joy, King's Lynn

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
it is very amusing to see all you Lib, Lab, Green fans taking a 'holier than thou' attitude to political defections when for years you have no doubt been applauding defections from the Tories, saying it was a matter of conscience

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blister

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
he isn't a fan of the NDR on his facebook page so i wonder what his new position will be ?

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Double Bill

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I have been suprised recently talking to friends who used to support LabLib that they now think Cameron is doing a reasonable job and despite suffering financially they believe he is only dealing with problems left by previous disasterous government and world problems, he does'nt get my vote because he is not anti Europe enough but maybe for every vote he loses from the right he gains a couple from the middle ground, recent polls seem to suggest this

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blister

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Whoever said you vote for the candidate not the party is being somewhat naive and not appreciating the 'bigger picture'. I believe that this is the third defection of this kind in Norfolk. I would expect anyone in this position to resign, not cross the floor and thus maintain their own interests before serving the public, as they pretend to do. As for being 'green' and joining the Tories!!!!!

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micklynn

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Hmm, Lad seems a bit of a lightweight eh! Who on earth voted for him? Member of the Norfolk Police Authority, tell the boys in blue to ensure they engage first gear when approaching a busy junction. As for the Incinerator mentioned below is this somebody who could be on a decision making commitee, think about it. Please read Philip Hardys quotes again, embarrasing.

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Moaning Lisa

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Stories like this just go to show that the left-right paradigm in politics is false! The false left-right paradigm is just a way to distract the public from the fact that it's really the bankers and elite who pull the strings of the politicians from behind the scenes. We may as well all vote for independent candidates instead.

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sparkle555_2000

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Yawn Yawn. If you were a career politician who would you join? The Green Party? please,,,, I wish him well - young blood is just what the Tories need. There must be a few ready to croak now anyway. If you want to get something done (environment or otherwise) you need to be a member of the prevailing party. End of discussion.

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uralldumb

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Don't forget to switch the lights out when you go in 2013, Bob!

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Fenscape

Monday, December 19, 2011
Good news and somebody else who has seen sense. Good luck for the future Philip.

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Bob Hunt

Monday, December 19, 2011
I love this line..." It is not power that corrupts, it is that corrupt individuals seek power"....political psychopaths,green,blue or red !!!!

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nrg

Monday, December 19, 2011
Actually, can any of us name one of the (now) sixty three Conservative members on NCC for whom we have the slightest degree of respect?

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John Martin

Monday, December 19, 2011
He has joined the anti-recycling party Tory Wheelabrator.

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Ben Baxter

Monday, December 19, 2011
I doubt Mr Hardy is listening, Trevor. He is now a member of the NCC Tories and as such, listening to the people of Norfolk is now probably beneath him.

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Fenscape

Monday, December 19, 2011
I wonder why Phil Hardy left his decision to join anti recycling party “Tory Wheelabrator” just over a week after the results from the High Court case.

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Ben Baxter

Monday, December 19, 2011
Mr Hardy - why have you not resigned and given your voters an opportunity to re-assess their feelings about the situation? With regard to policy, I'd be much more interested in his views on 'domestic' Norfolk issues - for example the deranged Greater Norwich development plans, which threaten to put great swathes of countryside under tarmac and brickweave over the next 15 years - than his ruminations on topics like Libya and the credit ratings of other nations' economies.

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Trevor Ashwin

Monday, December 19, 2011
Only honourable thing he should do is Resign and let the voters in his ward decide what or who they want to represent them!

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City Boy

Monday, December 19, 2011
This adds to the Green decline in Norwich and the UK. The Greens have not taken Norwich City Council their people are defecting back to Labour and in some cases going to the Tories. They failed in their major campaign to win the Lakenham by-election and came 4th. No one can wait for a Green Council or Gov't - we will all be dead n buried time they get in.

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NchNthMan

Monday, December 19, 2011
This adds to the Green decline in Norwich and the UK. The Greens have not taken Norwich City Council their people are defecting back to Labour and in some cases going to the Tories. No one can wait for a Green Council or Gov't - we will all be dead n buried time they get in.

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NchNthMan

Monday, December 19, 2011
only 20 % voted tory in his ward compared to nearly 50 % green how is that democracy

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Double Bill

Monday, December 19, 2011
"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which." (George Orwell, "Animal Farm").

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pamela mason

Monday, December 19, 2011
Resign. Resign. Resign.

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pamela mason

Monday, December 19, 2011
As I tried to say earlier, I feel that moments such as these tell us far more about the nature of the man than of the politics he claims to represent and uphold. On the upside, anyone who willingly steps into the lion's den to receive a ringing endorsement from the likes of Murphyand pals probably won't last much beyond 2013 anyway...... thankfully.

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Fenscape

Monday, December 19, 2011
It just goes to show this whole incinerator process has been fixed from the start.

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Steve33

Monday, December 19, 2011
Hang on - if this guy is on the planning committee that has to decide the fate of the incinerator and hes just switched to the Tories then how can anyone in Norfolk have faith in this man's part in the whole process from now on? How long has he been cuddling up to Murphy's lot and what sort of deals have been going on under the table in the meantime?

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Fenscape

Monday, December 19, 2011
As recently as 11th November, Cllr Hardy was reported on the Green Party website as saying: "At County Hall the Green Party is an effective alternative to the Conservatives". How can he live with his conscience? If the Conservative Party need people like him, what does that say about them?

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Nemesis

Monday, December 19, 2011
You cant trust any of these councillors, hardy just wants to get on the payroll.

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Steve33

Monday, December 19, 2011
Does Hardy have any principles at all? He has gone from the anti-war Green Party to supporting David Cameron on Libya. He once said "at County Hall the Green Party is an effective alternative to the Conservatives. We oppose them where we disagree – such as on cuts to youth services and transport priorities" but now supports their deficit plan.

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Newsflash

Monday, December 19, 2011
A fine city it doesn't ring true that you elect the candidate not the party but polling suggests many vote Conservative regardless of the candidate. Hardy knows this which must be why he ditched his green values and went to a right - wing party!

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Newsflash

Monday, December 19, 2011
One question Mr. Hardy - How much?

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Christine

Monday, December 19, 2011
Here is a conundrum. Cllr Hardy is the Green Group representative on Norfolk Police Authority. Last year, that paid him £10k in addition to his £9k from NCC. Surely, he will now have to give up his place on the Norfolk Police Authority. Will we find that one of the Conservative Group representatives will be kicked off in his favour so that his income does not drop? If so, which one?

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John Martin

Monday, December 19, 2011
I suppose another way to look at this is to say the conservatives must be pretty desperate if they welcome with open arms a Green party member. I mean no insult to the green party they are, on the whole, highly pricipled people. My point is that Green policies and Conservative policies are a million miles apart therefore it is just Murphy welcoming anyone and everyone into his fold to boost his ego and control over Norfolk. On the bright side that is another seat for the conservatives to lose in 2013. As for Hardy it is just selfish ambition which will be his downfall.

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Joy, King's Lynn

Monday, December 19, 2011
He can't have been very green in the first place if he's defected to the Tory Party, the most environmentally- unfriendly government (both local and national) we've had for a long time.

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xxxx

Monday, December 19, 2011
Just what is the matter with this site, cannot get a comment on however I try. Needless to say I am disgusted with Mr Hardy.

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chucky noris

Monday, December 19, 2011
Great. One less to tell us to get on the bus , bike or walk every where.

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Rorping

Monday, December 19, 2011
How someone can defect from the Greens to the Tories defies belief. On wonders what goes on amongst these councillors ? But needless to say the man can't be trusted and should be a regarded a traitor in the political sense of the word.

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John L Norton

Monday, December 19, 2011
Cries of hypocrisy and dishonour are rather naive. You elect the candidate not the party. That's how it works. MPs switch sides, so do Councillors sometimes. Up to them. And you vote them out next time if you want to. Campaign for a change in the electoral system if you like. but at present the freedom to cross the floor exists and targeting one person who has exercised this freedom is playing the man, not the ball.

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a fine city

Monday, December 19, 2011
Mr Murphy's quick to comment when it appeases him, it's been at least 3 weeks since I invited him to Holt to discuss Holt's car park... still no response.

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Jono Read

Monday, December 19, 2011
Is this why the Greens withdrew their motion to call for an external enquiry into NCC's behaviour in September. Shame on you Cllr Hardy I hope you can live with this despicable turn coat decision. Did you miss the EDP Friday telling us how your new bedfellows are bullying not only each other but also our elected MP's. Is that really what you want to become?

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Canary Boy

Monday, December 19, 2011
Mr Hardy, do you think this is the action of an honourable man? You have betrayed the people who elected you, for what reason? Did you decide this on a bike ride with your firend Derrick? Did you become a conservative before the scrutiny committee meeting in which you had a vote and acted as chairman in March and deputy chair in April? Is it correct that your ambition is to be a police commissioner and that may be more achieveable as a conservative than a green? So many questions I wish to ask let us hope the BBC do a radio phone in tomorrow and you can tell us all about it.

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Joy, King's Lynn

Monday, December 19, 2011
blister- i bet if he had joined labour or lib dems you would be the first to condemn him !! nemesis- ah now we are getting the bigger picture he wants an easy ride in police comissioner elections

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Double Bill

Monday, December 19, 2011
Clearly it is so that he can get away from the knee-jerk nimbyism of his ex-colleagues and support the NDR!

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Fred

Monday, December 19, 2011
so he left the green party for the tories based on the french economy, the nhs and libya ? perhaps he could consider residents' wishes first instead of his own ?

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Double Bill

Monday, December 19, 2011
Google "Phil Hardy Lib Dems" to see just how hypocritical this man has been after his attack on the Lib Dems' defection to the Tories.

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Jono Read

Monday, December 19, 2011
I wonder what his view is on burning waste in preference to recycling more of it, how will that sit with his "green" ethos.

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depressed Norfolk

Monday, December 19, 2011
Blister, it doesn't matter a jot which political groups are involved. Cllr Hardy had no record as a county councillor when he was elected in 2009. Therefore, those who worked for him and those who voted for him did so because he advertised himself as a member of the Green Party and, by implication, as a supporter of the Green Party's polices and values. It is about decency and honesty, and little to do with politics. Cllr Hardy has said on Radio Norfolk that the electorate can judge him in 2013. Why did he not wait until 2013 to change sides? He is rumoured to want to become Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner. Perhaps he feels that he has a better chance as a Conservative. My own view on that front is that he has no experience and credentials for that role, but that is a personal view.

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Nemesis

Monday, December 19, 2011
I bet all those people moaning about Phil Hardies switch would react differently if he had switched to a party they supported, in the past when Tories switched to Labour or Lib dems members of both parties would have said it was a brave decision

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blister

Monday, December 19, 2011
He can vote for the incinerator now, this is what this is about.

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Steve33

Monday, December 19, 2011
Of course Mr Hardy is entitled to make his choice, but now the electors of Thorpe Hamlet are entitled to make a choice too. They elected a Green councillor, not a Conservative councillor, and if Mr Hardy believes that he can continue to represent them from the Tory benches at County Hall he is seriously mistaken. The only reputable course of action now available to Mr Hardy, in my view, is to resign his seat immediately and to contest the ensuing by-election as a Conservative candidate. If he chooses not to take this course of action he will be showing wilful disregard for the electors who sent him to County Hall in the first place, and he will lose all political credibility. The voters of Thorpe Hamlet will not be impressed if Mr Hardy takes them for granted in this way, and he will only have himself to blame when they unceremoniously kick him off the council at the first opportunity. Would Mr Hardy like to contribute to this discussion on the EDP message board and tell us his intentions, I wonder?

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cjs

Monday, December 19, 2011
come on, there have been defections for years usually from Tories or Labour to Lib dems, now people are defecting to the Tories everyone is saying it is not fair, get used to it, personally I dislike all defections shows a lack will etc and I did'nt vote for any of the 3 main parties

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blister

Monday, December 19, 2011
This is becoming ridiculous. Surely it is time for the rules to be changed, so that switching to a different political group obliges you to resign and fight a by-election. On three occasions now we have seen that this cannot be left to the conscience of the individual in question. And, apart from the voters, what of the Green Party, which paid Cllr Hardy's election expenses and its members who helped him to be elected?

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Nemesis

Monday, December 19, 2011
I assume that Mr Hardy will now be doing the honourable thing and resigning his seat to force a by-election and allow the electorate to determine if they, too, wish to defect to the Tories...............?

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pjelliott

Monday, December 19, 2011