AS many know, I have left the Bournemouth Independent Group and have joined the Conservative Party. I have come in for a great deal of criticism but I would like to explain the reasons I felt forced to make this decision.

I stood as an Independent candidate within the recently formed Bournemouth Independent Group with Cllr Anne Rey as our leader. Bournemouth Independent Group had 19 candidates in 10 wards and we were all very disappointed with the group’s results. Only three Independents were elected.

Cllrs Rey and Whittaker campaigned for Liberal Democrat candidates in the Redhill and Northbourne and Kinson North wards. This, despite their own Independent group having candidates standing in each of those wards. There was a great deal of disquiet in the group over their decision to do this after they were asked not to but did anyway.

Our Independent candidate in Redhill and Northbourne lost to a Liberal Democrat by just 162 votes. Both Independent candidates in these wards have called me with their support. On election night, Cllr Anne Rey stated to a local radio reporter that “she was a Liberal Democrat at heart”.

Following an article in the Bournemouth Echo on May 7 regarding comments made by Cllr Ben Grower assuming leadership of the opposition, I received an email from Cllr Whittaker stating he would support Cllr Grower as the opposition spokesperson – even though Labour have never been a force in Bournemouth. Following this, I received an e-mail from Cllr Rey informing me that the Liberal Democrats were going to have email exchanges on a regular basis with our group to discuss future opposition to the Conservatives.

These are not the actions of an Independent.

It was a very difficult decision to make but withdrawing from the Bournemouth Independent Group meant I had no group to join.

In this position, I would have little chance of receiving regular information with regard to what was going on at the Town Hall until the decision was in its final stages.

I have been an active councillor over the past four years, saving the residents of Bournemouth over £3m over the next 10 years. I wanted to continue this good work and felt that I could serve the residents better as a voice in the Conservative party, working with them rather than being a single voice on the outside. It also allows me an input into these decisions on your behalf. I will not be a “yes” man, but a constructive one who will endeavour to see the correct decisions are made at council on behalf of the residents.

CLLR DEREK BORTHWICK, Throop and Muscliff, Bournemouth Town Hall