Ex-Tory councillors form new group on council

Martin Griffiths is a former leader at the Borough Council of Wellingborough

Four former Conservatives have created an independent group on North Northamptonshire Council (NNC).

Last week, Cedwien Brown and Joseph Smyth stood down from the party's group on the unitary local authority.

The pair have formed the new Independent Alliance with Martin Griffiths and Jim Hakewill, who had already left the Tories.

Tory council leader Jason Smithers previously said Ms Brown and Mr Smyth should step down and trigger a by-election.

Cedwien Brown and Joseph Smyth, members of North Northamptonshire Council, resigned from the Conservative Party

The pair quit the party following a row over a proposed temporary traveller stopping site in Rothwell.

The two, along with Mr Hakewill, represent the Rothwell and Mawsley ward.

Ms Brown said she had become independent "as I firmly believe that one of the most important roles as a councillor is to listen to your constituents and to find the best resolution possible for their needs and the area that you represent".

Jim Hakewill was previously part of an alliance with the Green Party on NNC

Mr Hakewill, who was elected as an independent in 2021, said he "particularly enjoyed... working with Green and Liberal Democrat colleagues on NNC".

He said the new alliance wanted "better representation for our communities, without being told what to do by an MP or national party".

Mr Smyth said NNC needed to have councillors who "want best value for taxpayers' money, and who work for their constituents with openness and honesty".

Mr Griffiths, who represents Irchester, said his "inbox is full of complaints from council taxpayers in North Northamptonshire who say they are not getting value for money on many of the services that this council provide".