FOUR borough councillors in Feltham and Hanworth who quit the Tory party within days of each other have joined UKIP.
The political switch came to light this week after Councillor Gillian Hutchinson (Feltham North) became the latest to quit the Hounslow Conservative group, following Colin Botterill (Feltham West), Rebecca Stewart and Beverley Williams (Hanworth Park).
They are said to have moved due to differences with the the Feltham & Heston Conservative Association, as well as lack of support in the Tory party.
Hounslow Conservative Leader Peter Thompson, said: "It is indeed true that councillors Hutchinson, Stewart and Williams were facing disciplinary proceedings for breaking group rules. But I am still saddened that they have decided to leave the party for which they were elected only two years ago."
He added: "I am extremely disappointed and surprised that councillor Botterill has resigned from the Conservative Party."
One of the defectors, Rebecca Stewart said on Friday: "There have been association issues and I wasn't particularly happy and neither was councillor Williams with the way the (Feltham and Heston) association things were being run. There was also a lack of support from some of the officers from the Conservative Group.
"We want to reassure residents we are still their local councillors and our work in the community will still continue."
