Matt Kent leaves the Green Party

Lewes Town Council member Matt Kent has taken the decision to leave the Green Party and stand as an independent for the Lewes Bridge Ward to campaign for the residents of Malling, Cliffe and some parts of central Lewes without political affiliation.

In a statement on his blog, Kent says that it was a decision not taken lightly having been elected as a Green Party councillor in May 2011. Later, writing on Facebook, he cited reasons of "Political disenfranchisement" and "The lack of Green Party strategy & organisation," adding that he wanted to "focus on local issues apolitically."

Kent said "I have campaigned on local issues for many years, such as safer streets, better recycling facilities, improved public transport services to name a few issues. More recently I have been involved with Malling Community Association, promoting the aims of Brighton Mainline 2 (www.BML2.co.uk), getting potholes fixed, campaigning against the expansion of residential parking and looking into ways that Lewes Town Council can be become a better communicator with its residents." 

So, it seems that the new year is bringing in political change in Lewes and that Matt might join the ranks of Ruth O'Keeffe, herself having explored various political affiliations before becoming an independent, a role for which she has been widely praised.