Lib Dem faces PC assault charge

By County Press Reporter

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Adrian Whittaker.

CALLS for a Lib Dem councillor to be expelled from the party have been made this week after it was confirmed 37-year-old Adrian Whittaker was alleged to have assaulted a police officer.

The calls were led by Island party vice-president and long-serving executive member Morris Barton. He said: "It is the party’s AGM tomorrow (Friday) and I am sure Cllr Whittaker’s expulsion from the party will be on the agenda. If Cllr Whittaker is subsequently convicted we will be seeking the Isle of Wight Council leader Cllr David Pugh’s support for seeking Cllr Whittaker’s resignation as a councillor."

The leader of the Isle of Wight Council’s Lib Dems, Cllr Reg Barry, confirmed Cllr Whittaker had been expelled from the group. Cllr Whittaker was elected to the Isle of Wight Council just under six months ago. He also serves on Ryde Town Council and was controversially selected to fight Ryde South for the Lib Dems in place of the long-serving IW Council member Charles Chapman.

He beat Mr Chapman, who stood as an independent liberal, by just 12 votes.

A police spokesman said: "Adrian Charles Robert Victor Whittaker, of Lower Highland Road, Ryde, was bailed to appear before Island magistrates on Monday."