A SENIOR and experienced Conservative councillor has been suspended for breaching the political group’s rules when she put forward a motion supporting Ukraine.

Conservative BCP Council members voted to take the action against Parkstone ward councillor Ann Stribley.

Poole Conservative Association has slammed the move, which came after Cllr Stribley proposed a motion to express support for the people of Ukraine, as requested by the Conservative Party Central Office.

It is understood the BCP Conservative Group took exception as she had not sought their approval to submit the motion.

A statement from the Poole Conservative Association officers said: “The officers of the Poole Conservative Association unanimously support our chair, Cllr Ann Stribley, in her proposed motion as requested by the Conservative Party Central Office, to express support for the people of Ukraine at this time in what is an awful human tragedy.

“We are extremely disappointed and saddened that the leadership of BCP Conservative councillors sought to suspend our association chair from the group for a period of three months for simply not following internal group rules in relation to a motion with such sentiment as this.

“We are grateful to those Poole Conservative councillors who recognised the sentiments behind the motion and voted against Ann’s suspension.”

Councillor Stribley has represented Parkstone for more than 40 years and received an MBE for services to Poole in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Over the past year she has been an active member of BCP Council’s planning committee and overview and scrutiny board.

Cllr Drew Mellor, Conservative leader on BCP Council, said: “The overwhelming decision of the Conservative Group was to temporarily suspend a member from certain group activities for three months following repeated breaches of the agreed rules.

“Details are confidential but, like all parties, the Conservative group has rules that we all agree to.

“A limited period withdrawal of the group whip is the usual sanction for a repeated beach of group rules.

“At the end of the suspension period they will be automatically re-admitted fully back to the group.”

The Daily Echo approached Cllr Stribley for comment.

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