THE leader of Bolton Council's Liberal Democrats today admitted she was "surprised" by maverick MP Peter Thurnham's shock decision to join her Party.

But Horwich Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson, who is also a parliamentary candidate for Bolton West, welcomed the Bolton North East MP's defection at the weekend.

Local Liberal Democrats will meet Mr Thurnham on Friday when they will attempt to iron out past differences.

Cllr Mrs Ronson said: "We are surprised because he never came across as likely to join us, but we do welcome any conversion that comes along.

"We are meeting so we can look at some of the things we have had differences on in the past, to see how far Mr Thurnham has changed and to iron out the differences. "We are hoping to work with him for better services for people in Bolton. We need to be working in the same direction."

Cllr Mrs Ronson said she had not spoken to Mr Thurnham since his defection but welcomed his statement, in particular a lot of what he has said on sleaze in the Conservative party and education. "What we have got, which is a good thing, is another vote in the House of Commons against the Government if it comes to a vote of no confidence."

Cllr Mrs Ronson said Mr Thurnham had been a good constituency MP and hoped he will help in the same way now that he has joined the Liberal Democrats. She added she liked Mr Thurnham on a personal level and had worked with him for the charity Vision Aid.

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