Blow for the Lib Dems as Darke quits

7:33am Friday 21st March 2008

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SOUTHAMPTON Liberal Democrats have suffered their first casualty since they joined forces with Labour to oust the Tories from power.

Popular local party chairman Ken Darke quit his post and dealt his party's local election hopes a blow by withdrawing as a candidate.

Mr Darke, who lost his Coxford seat by just 57 votes last year, had already been campaigning hard to return to the council chamber representing the Millbrook ward. The Lib Dems were relegated to the third party last May.

Asked why he took the decision to quit he said: "It's the fact I've fallen out with the local party at the moment."

However he went on to claim it had nothing to do with the formation of a new joint administration with Labour to defeat Tory budget plans.

"There is no hidden agenda," he added.

"It's for purely personal reasons. I'm still a member of the Lib Dem party. I'm not supporting any other party."

Mr Darke, 68, added: "You can only chair the party for so long. I feel it's right for a younger person to come in.

"There are a lot of youngsters in the local party. It's time for them to come in and take over."

Mr Darke has been a member for the Liberal Democrats for about ten years.

Lib Dem group leader councillor Adrian Vinson said: "I'm disappointed that for personal reasons he feels unable to continue in his role."