Thornton, who depicts himself as an advocate for green spaces, was challenged on his credentials during the first hustings of the by-election triggered by Chris Huhne’s resignation as an MP, the Guardian reported.
He confirmed he had voted for 5,000 new houses to be built on green spaces and said: “Of course I voted for them … We need the building.”
Thornton, a parish and borough councillor since 2007, worked as an adviser at Southampton-based Simply Finance before running as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Eastleigh.
The constituency became vacant after the former Energy minister Chris Huhne pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and resigned.
Mike Thornton, who worked as an adviser at Southampton-based Simply Finance as well as being a parish and borough councillor since 2007, will contest the ex-cabinet minister’s former Eastleigh seat in an upcoming by-election.
Huhne resigned as an MP earlier this month after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice. His ex-wife had accused him of forcing her to take his speeding points.
