New leader of Cornwall Council Lib Dems after Adam Paynter suspension

It was revealed last week that Adam Paynter, deputy leader of the council, had been suspended by the Lib Dems for a year for bringing the party into disrepute.

The ruling, which means he cannot stand for the party in May’s elections, related to Cllr Paynter sharing a confidential email which had been sent to him by a then Lib Dem colleague.

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Malcolm Brown, who returns as leader of the Lib Dem group, has backed Cllr Paynter describing him as “a highly principled person”.

The Lib Dems said that members had elected Cllr Brown to the role of leader at a meeting on Friday. Joyce Duffin will be his deputy.

Both councillors will be returning to roles which they held from 2017 to 2020. The group had selected Cllr Paynter as group leader in 2020 despite knowing that he was being investigated by the Lib Dems nationally regarding the complaint against him.

Cornwall councillor Malcolm Brown, new leader of the Liberal Democrat group at County Hall

In a statement Cllr Brown said: “I have been pleased to have worked closely with Adam Paynter for several years and regard him as a good friend. I have been very impressed by his work for Cornwall and regret, as does he, that one or two ill judged actions on his part have led to him stepping down from some of his roles. 

"Despite this I am sure both that he is a highly principled person and that he has a bright political future to look forward to. I support him continuing as deputy leader of Cornwall Council.

“We are less than two months away from the next local elections. My key challenges until then are to keep the Liberal Democrats in Cornwall disciplined and focused on presenting the case for a large number of our candidates to be elected. I am proud of the record of how Liberal Democrats and Independents have worked together in the administrations of 2013 to 2021. I believe that the public like people of different persuasions working together. We are showing in Cornwall how we can do that well.”

Adam Paynter, deputy leader of Cornwall Council

Adam Paynter is understood to have joined the Independent group at County Hall after being stopped from representing the Lib Dems.

Elections are set to take place on May 6 for all seats at Cornwall Council. The elections will be based on new arrangements which will see the number of councillors at County Hall reduced from 123 to 87.

There will also be elections for the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and town and parish councils across Cornwall.