WITH regard to Conservative Cllr Sally Carpenter changing parties only 18 months after election, and it seems throwing Poole council into turmoil on the matter of who is to run the council, surely such change should not take place without a by-election?

The people of Lower Parkstone voted in a Conservative councillor on a very strong vote count of more than 2,000.

Where now do all these Conservative-voting constituents stand with their elected councillor changing to a completely different party?

And not just Ms Carpenter. This is becoming more and more frequent.

Last election in Bounemouth, one councillor (Derek Borthwick) changed from Independent to Conservative within a week of being elected.

Is this not becoming entirely absurd if not downright political fraud with any number of faint excuses offered for the sudden Damascus mind change? And this case in Poole, worse than ever with a massive impact on a finely balanced council. At a time when there is so much shortage and pressure, I expect councillors will now spend many months wrangling over who runs council.

I say if a councillor changes party in mid-term, then there must be a by-election. That then might make the wobbly type a bit more thoughtful.

DAVID HOWIE, Bournemouth Road, Poole