AN AREA of Barnsley is set to have its first ever Liberal Democrat councillor after he decided to ‘take a stand’ and leave the Labour group due to becoming disillusioned with the ‘complacency’ of the local council.

Coun Clive Pickering announced he would be defecting to the Lib Dems - who are currently the opposition to the Labour Party in the town hall - this week.

He stood in the 2012 elections as a member of the Barnsley Independent Group for the Old Town ward, but finished second behind Phil Davies with 25 per cent of the votes.

He then was elected onto the council as a Labour representative in 2018 with more than 54 per cent of the total votes, before being re-elected in 2022 with 51 per cent of the votes.

However, the Chronicle can reveal that he will now stand as a Lib Dem councillor - the first time the party has had a stake in the Old Town area - after becoming disillusioned with the politics of the Labour party both locally and nationally.

Coun Pickering said damage is being done to his integrity simply by being a member of the Labour Party.

He told the Chronicle: “Given the damage Labour are causing to the country - cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners and attacking disabled people in proposed PIP changes, which they have only partly reversed out of political fear, I can’t in good conscience stand with a party that has abandoned its principles and the people they are meant to support, with our own MPs supporting these cuts.

“I’ve also tried to fix the Barnsley Labour Party from the inside, but you struggle to get things done if you’re not part of the deciding group.

“I disagree with a council dictated by a handful of people, where public accountability has become non-existent and residents aren’t listened to.

“I also had to question the damage it was doing to my integrity by simply being a member.”

The Lib Dems are the second largest party in the town hall with 11 seats, compared to Labour’s 48.

There are three independent councillors and one Conservative.

And despite the rise in the Reform party nationally in local politics, there are currently no councillors from that party in the town hall after Coun David White left the group.

Coun Pickering added: “People are waking up to reality, and the Lib Dems have proven they are the real alternative to Labour in Barnsley.

“They listen, and they work hard for you, the residents, not for town hall bosses.

” They also care about our country’s future.

“Nationally, the Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey is leading the charge on fixing the social care system - they are a party I trust to get things done and look after people.”

Coun Hannah Kitching, leader of the Lib Dems in Barnsley, added that her party will work for the residents of the Old Town ward.

She added: “It is a pleasure to welcome Clive to the group.

“Well known and popular locally, he’s a councillor who gets things done in Old Town. I know he’ll be a hard-working member of the Lib Dem team.

“From tackling issues around the hospital, campaigning for a Park and Ride, to securing disabled access to the Pogmoor Recreational Ground, the Lib Dems already have a proven track record of supporting residents of Old Town.

“We look forward to working with Clive to do even more for his residents.”