John Thurso warmly welcomes Cllr Linda Munro to the Liberal Democrats

12.00.00am GMT Fri 13th Mar 2009

John Thurso MP warmly welcomed former Independent Councillor Linda Munro's decision to join the Highland Liberal Democrat Party. "Jamie Stone and I have both worked with Linda in our local communities and know her to be a tireless and deeply committed campaigner for our area. She is a highly experienced Councillor and will add further depth to our Highland Lib Dem team." Councillor Ian Ross, Chair of the Highland Lib Dem Group said "I am very pleased Linda has decided to join our group. She will be a great asset to our team and I know she thought long and hard about the decision. With her on board I feel that we are better placed to deliver for the people of the north."

Linda says:

"In Highland Council it is the right time for me to move on, and my natural direction would be to the Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dem politics in action - what I have experienced, I like, understand and trust.

Over the past twenty plus years, I have had occasion to seek the support of Robert McLennan, John Thurso and more recently Jamie Stone. They have helped me deal with a variety of issues arising from meeting the life needs, of a severely physically disabled young person, living in a remote and rural area. So I have a long standing, affinity with the Lib Dems.

Why didn't I stand as a Lib Dem in the first place?

Truly, it never entered my head to be a party political councillor. That said, Highland Council is now a political council and I believe it will remain so, for the rest of my working life, The opportunity to influence national policy, and be part of the political future of the Highlands is now, and for me it's with the Lib Dems"

What about the Independent Members Group?

We were six individuals, who formed a political grouping - agreeing to vote by conscience with regard to our communities and that is exactly what we did.

I am still adhering to that agreement. My conscience informs me, my communities would be best served, by joining the Lib Dems."