THE chairman of Bolton North-east Conservatives today accused Peter Thurnham of letting the party down for a second time in the wake of his decision to join the Liberal Democrats.

Bolton Councillor Norman Critchley, who has known Mr Thurnham since 1980, said: "He has betrayed the people of Bolton once again, people who supported him, worked for him and voted for him as a Conservative MP.

"I feel annoyed, disappointed and betrayed. He let people down in February when he became an independent Conservative.

"Since then he has talked to me about Government policies and has supported the vast majority of them

"I am very surprised that he has joined the Liberal Democrats but I am not surprised at the timing of the announcement. "Peter had spoken of his contempt of the Liberal Democrats in the past and I find his decision to join them utterly amazing.

"We will not be holding a special meeting and will treat the news with the contempt it deserves.

"We have selected a new candidate for Bolton North-east in Robert Wilson.

"He is a man who will stick to his principles and I am absolutely certain he would never consider anything like this.

"To say that the Conservatives have lost their basic principles is absolute and utter drivel. It is just another pathetic excuse to join the Liberal Democrats.

"I last saw him on September 25 in Bolton and everything seemed okay at that time." Cllr Critchley said Mr Thurnham spoke to him about the possibility of retiring from politics before he became an independent Conservative.

Asked why Mr Thurnham had joined the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Critchley speculated that party leader Paddy Ashdown may have offered him the chance to contest a winnable seat.

Tory election hopeful Robert Wilson, who will contest Bolton North-east seat at the next election, said Mr Thurnham's decision will ensure he leaves politics on a very low note.

He said "Mr Thurnham has said that he wants to leave Bolton North-east and given the prospects of the Liberal Democrats, Mr Thurnham is leaving politics on a very low note." Mr Wilson said that the timing of the announcement could be seen as "a spoiling tactic after a very successful Conservative Party conference."

The man who spearheaded Peter Thurnham's successful 1992 election campaign today condemned the MP's shock defection.

Long standing Conservative party member John Walsh, who acted as Thurnham's agent, said he felt "betrayed" by his former colleague's actions.

Mr Walsh said: "Since last February when Peter Thurnham resigned the party whip I and the people who worked so hard on his behalf in the last general election have felt betrayed. I think what has happened is quite extraordinary."

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