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Former Newbury town councillor reinstated into Lib Dem Party




Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera wins appeal against expulsion

FORMER Newbury town councillor Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera is back in the Liberal Democrat Party after his lifetime ban was overturned in less than two months.

Mr Uduwerage-Perera has won an appeal at Liberal Democrat headquarters against his expulsion.

He has been restored immediately as chairman of the party’s ethnic minority group, and given back all his rights and privileges as a party member.

He said: “I’m thrilled, though I can’t say I’m surprised because the disciplinary hearing at which I was banned was badly flawed.

“My immediate aim is to go back to building the party’s ethnic minority group to a point where it can break down the barriers of intolerance, which plainly exist.

“It’s been a nasty experience, but common sense and justice have prevailed in the end. I didn’t like being branded a bully, because it’s so far from the truth.

“But the slate is now clean and I’m already excitedly getting involved in serious party matters. I also say a special ‘thank you’ to all those who supported me in the dark days.”

A disciplinary panel, sitting at party headquarters back in October, found the council’s former deputy leader guilty of harassment, intimidation and bullying, and bringing the party into disrepute.

The charges related mainly to incidents involving Mr Uduwerage-Perera and senior council employees and councillors over the council’s failure to trigger a legal expenses claim in its dispute with developer Costain regarding the subsidence damage to Victoria Park.

Mr Uduwerage-Perera lodged an immediate appeal, claiming that the disciplinary hearing was conducted in a “grossly unfair manner”.

At the time, he said: “A few pompous numpties have flexed their muscles and taken pleasure in kicking me out of the party but, acting on natural justice, I feel confident of winning my appeal and being restored to the party.”

He further claimed that he had not been given details of the complaints against him, or who had made them.

In a letter dated November 6, Mr Uduwerage-Perera was told that he had been found guilty of three of the four charges brought against him, and that he was being instantly dismissed from the party.

Signed on behalf of panel chairman Ian Jones, the letter said: “Acts of harassment, intimidation and bullying are very serious matters.

“The panel considered that these had been proved beyond all reasonable doubt in regards to your behaviour towards Julian Swift-Hook [Lib-Dem, and leader of Newbury Town Council at the time] at meetings on July 23 and 28.

“A clear line had been crossed in terms of behaviour congruent to continued membership of the Liberal Democrats.”

Mr Uduwerage-Perera said: “How terribly wrong was that verdict. To be accused of harassment and bullying in the rough and tumble of local politics is absolutely pathetic.

“I’m obviously grateful to the appeals panel for bringing common sense and justice to the table.”



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