Peter Maughan, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Gateshead Council for more than 30 years, has left the group and will now serve as an independent, claiming it was implied he was too old and too disabled to stand for re-election in May.
Maughan, first elected in 1994, said he was not re-selected to stand at next May's local elections on account of his age and disability. He had been a Lib Dem candidate in multiple political races across the region, including the now-defunct parliamentary seat of Blaydon in 1997, 2001, and 2005, as well as in Hartlepool in 2024. He also stood as the Lib Dem candidate for Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.
Councillor's statement
When approached for comment, Maughan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I felt I had no choice following very illiberal conduct towards me, including an indication that I was too old and too disabled to stand again in May. I considered that very poor thanks for over 30 years service as a councillor."
Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Coun Ron Beadle, said: "Unfortunately, Peter Maughan has decided to leave the group after many years of service. He remains a party member, and his work for residents will always be appreciated."
Impact on council make-up
Maughan's departure leaves Labour and the Lib Dems as the joint official opposition to the town's Reform UK administration. Following Reform's electoral victory in Gateshead in May this year, the Lib Dem group had been the single largest opposition party by one seat, with Labour relegated to third.
The local authority now stands at Reform with 38 seats, the Lib Dems with 12, Labour with 12, the Greens with three, and Maughan as the sole independent.
