A CONSERVATIVE councillor at the Forest of Dean District authority has crossed the floor and become an Independent.

Mrs Claire Vaughan cited the issues happening at national political level within the Tory Party as the reason she has switched sides.

Mrs Vaughan, who was elected for the Lydney East ward in May’s local government elections, said: “I haven’t made this decision lightly but I believe that, for me to represent the electorate in Lydney East to my best ability with all what is going on at a national level at present, it would be better for me to do so as a independent councillor.”

Her switch means that there are now 16 independent councillors on the district authority with the Conservative group going down from ten members to nine.

The Conservatives are, though, still the largest opposition party to the independents, with the Green Party on six councillors, Labour on five and the Liberal Democrats with two elected members.

Cllr Thom Forester, the leader of the Independent Alliance, one of two independent groups on the council, said: “Having Cllr Vaughan with us to plan the way forward for the communities she represents and for the entire Forest of Dean is a huge boost.

“She has shown herself to be a willing and hard-working councillor and without the restraints of political allegiance, she will become a major voice for progress.

“No whipping, no party line, just honest opinions and decision-making, this is what makes the Independent Alliance work so well”.

And Cllr Tim Gwilliam, also an independent as well as the leader of the district council, was equally as pleased to see Cllr Vaughan switching sides.

He said: “Claire is, in many ways, the epitome of what the Alliance stands for – good honest, local community politics.

“She is passionate about her community. She takes a brave step, one many of us have taken before and one that I hope more will take in the future.

“By not taking the easy option, she proves her commitment to Lydney and to the Forest of Dean Council.

“In my role as leader of the council, I have already been subjected to Claire’s tenacity and drive on the subjects that mean so much to her.

“National party-based politics continues to divide, to damage and stop progression.

“Cllr Vaughan agrees with us that the Forest of Dean at least deserves better “