The deputy leader of Cornwall Council has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat Group.

A statement from Adam Paynter has now been issued by the party on his behalf, explaining the circumstances that led up to the suspension, which will last for one year. 

In it he states: "I will be standing down as leader of the Liberal Democrat group but I am not resigning as a Cornwall Councillor or leaving the cabinet or my position as deputy leader of Cornwall Council.

"In an attempt to help a former colleague with a matter in their ward, I shared an email with officers of the council without asking permission first, in contravention of proper process.

"I apologised to the colleague at the time."

Mr Paynter goes on to confirm that he will continue to stand in the forthcoming May elections.

Further details have since been published of the complaints made against Mr Paynter that led to the suspension. 

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The Conservative Group had suggested in a statement that it related to an allegation against Mr Paynter over "bullying."

However, Simon Taylor, secretary of the Cornwall Liberal Democrats, told the Packet: "I entirely refute that there was a complaint about bullying, the sole reason for Adam’s suspension was the incorrect release of the email."

In a statement from the Cornwall Conservative Group, leader Linda Taylor said: "I must admit to being horrified about the news that has come out today. For a senior person to be suspended by his party it surely takes more than one misdirected email, as claimed by Cllr Paynter.”

She called for full details of the actual complaints against Mr Paynter to be made public.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "This is an internal party matter, and does not affect the cabinet constitutionally."