HOUNSLOW Conservative leader Peter Thompson has expressed surprise that four of his councillors switched allegiances to UKIP - saying one "never expressed concerns to my face".

The borough's opposition leader was speaking to the Chronicle following the resignations from the party of Colin Botterill for Feltham West, mother and daughter Beverley Williams and Rebecca Stewart who both represent Hanworth Park and Gillian Hutchinson for Feltham North.

All four left the party last week and announced on Friday they would be joining the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

Cllr Thompson said: "I am extremely disappointed and surprised that councillor Botterill has resigned from the Conservative Party. He never expressed any concerns to my face about the party. When he first announced that he was planning to resign he stated he was going to stand as an independent councillor. Now it seems he has been converted to the charms of UKIP.

"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."

Councillor Botterill said he was attracted by UKIP’s policy of "not whipping local councillors and allowing them the freedom to do what is right for their constituents".

He added: "The tipping point for me was the amount of time spent on political in-fighting in the Conservative Party in Feltham and I decided to join UKIP. I have been joined in that by three other former Tory councillors who have also crossed the floor to join UKIP. They had been thinking about it for some time as they too felt like me.

"We are all now looking forward to being closer to our constituents and doing what they want rather than what a political party thinks is good for them."

Defectors Williams, Stewart and Hutchinson said they had surprised to learn they were being subject to disciplinary action.

Councillor Stewart said: "At no time did the leader or the chief whip say to us or write to us to tell us that we were under disciplinary action and it is strange that it has only come to light when we have resigned!"

They have all stepped down citing problems in the running of the Feltham and Heston Conservative Association, as well as the Conservative group dictating their policies on councillors rather than representing the real interests of local people, a lack of support and in-fighting in the Tory party.

Keen to put residents minds at rest, councillor Stewart added: " We want to reassure residents we are still their local councillors and our work in the community will still continue."

This week a UKIP MEP, Gerard Batten, welcomed the quartet to the party. He said: “Colin along with Gill, Beverley and Becky are local councillors who want to do their best for their constituents. UKIP is breaking the mould of politics in the UK in order to bring it closer to the people and they are just the kind of people we need to do that locally. We are all looking forward to working with them in the years to come."

Councillor Paul Jabbal, chairman of the Feltham & Heston Conservative Association, said: "Other than from three of those who have left the Group, no other concerns have been expressed about the way that the Association is carrying out its business. There is a formal complaints procedure if people have a problem with any aspect of how the Association is working - no formal complaint has been made."