By Nick Statham - Local Democracy Reporter

A councillor has quit his party and gone independent less than a fortnight after being elected as a Liberal Democrat candidate.

Cllr Aron Thornley was one of three Lib Dems returned in the Marple South and High Lane at Stockport council's 'all out' local elections on May 4.

He polled the second highest number of votes in the ward, playing his part in a successful campaign which saw the group take 30 seats in all – just two shy of the number needed to form a majority and take control of the town hall.

But he has now stunned colleagues by announcing his decision to resign from the party and stand as an independent for the remainder of his term.

Cllr Thornley is refusing to be drawn on the reasons for his departure – insisting his conversations with the group will remain confidential. 

Cllr Mark Hunter, leader of the Lib Dem group, has urged Cllr Thornley to explain his decision to voters, following a meeting with his one-time ally.

He said: "We are surprised and disappointed by his personal decision to quit, but it is up to Cllr Thornley to explain his change of mind and his reasons to the people who have just re-elected him as part of the Liberal Democrat team."

Cllr Thornley said: "I spoke to the Liberal Democrat Group leader Mark Hunter, and ward colleagues Cllr MacAlister and Cllr Alexander , in the past couple of days.

"I informed them of my decision to stand as an Independent Councillor in Marple South and High Lane ward in Stockport. These conversations, from my side, will remain confidential. I am supportive of what the Liberal Democrats are doing in Stockport."

Cllr Thornley – who was first elected in 2019 – said he would not be making any further comment beyond this statement.

His decision to go independent would appear to do little to dent the Lib Dems' claim to run the council for the next 12 months.

It means the group now has 29 councillors, which is still five more than Labour who would effectively need to marshall the support of all three smaller groups – the Greens, Independent Ratepayers and Edgeley Community Association – to take the town hall reins.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that Labour – under new leader Cllr David Meller – had agreed not to contest the administration in exchange for the group chairing all five council scrutiny committees.

However, that may change if there is any further fallout in the Lib Dem group which gives them a stronger claim on running the council over the coming year.

Stockport council has split its annual meeting into two parts to ensure the mayoral and ceremonial elements are kept separate from any acrimonious political wrangling.

However, it appears that – save for a dramatic rash of Lib Dem defections over the coming days – this year's should all take place on Tuesday (May 23).