HOUNSLOW Conservatives have been plunged into a fresh crisis after three councillors announced they would quit the party in the space of the week.
Councillor Rebecca Stewart and councillor Beverley Williams who represent Hanworth Park officially walked on Thursday and are said to be considering their futures.
The mother-daughter departure follows that Councillor Colin Botterill (Feltham West) who quit the Tories to become Hounslow's first UKIP councillor as of last Friday (24).
Councillor Stewart said: "It has not been an easy decision but one we have been making for 12 months. There have been association issues and I wasn't particularly happy and neither was councillor Williams with the way the (Felltham and Heston) association things were being run.
"There was also a lack of support from some of the officers from the Conservative Group. Councillor Williams and myself have got more problems with the association rather than the party itself.
"We will continue to carry on our duties as local councillors which we have been since 2006, and we want to put residents minds at rest. We want to reassure residents we are still their local councillors and our work in the community will still continue."
The duo will announce their decision - either to join another party or become Independent - early next week.
New UKIP councillor, Mr Botterill added: "There were so many problems building up within the Tory party. The party is crumbling and falling to pieces. I did not feel motivated by the party and there are national issues that have embarrassed me and other councillors.
"I felt lack of support as a councillor. One of the main issues is in-fighting in the group and not working as a team. I decided I would be happy with UKIP and told the council my decision on Tuesday. It has been amazing since then and I have got more support from UKIP in the past week than I ever had from the Conservative party."
The resignation tally in the troubled Tory group currently stands at four, and was started by the departure of councillor Allan Wilson in November last year.
He now stands as an Independent for Feltham North.
