New start for Peterborough City Councillor after 36 years

Councillor Adrian Miners is calling it a day after 36 years representing Dogsthorpe.

His decision follows that of Britain’s longest-serving councillor, Charles Swift, to not stand again after 62 years as an elected member.

Cllr Miners enjoyed an active youth which included setting up local organisations such as Peterborough Gay Group, and in May 1980 he was first elected onto the council as a representative for the Liberal Party.

Cllr Miners said: “One of the greatest political compliments ever given to me was by Cllr Swift when he was leader of the council and the Labour group, when he said ‘Adrian, you are more left wing than the left wing of my Labour group’.

“I viewed myself in those early days as a libertarian socialist and fought against, and still fight against, the doctrine of party whips and the belief that ‘the party’ comes before all else. It does not.”

Cllr Miners has delivered a monthly newsletter in his ward every month since he was elected, and he thanked “the wonderful people of Dogsthorpe Ward.” He said: “Your faith in me has made me a much better person.”

Cllr Miners, who is the third-longest serving city councillor behind Cllrs Swift and John Holdich, told his constituents: “I have many happy memories of being your councillor over the past 36 years, but I believe it is time to move on to pastures new and concentrate on my life with my long-term partner Bobbie (Roberta) Day.

“We met while campaigning to save one of our community facilities. We won and the rest is history.”