Stratford Conservative councillor defects to UKIP

Stratford Conservative councillor, Paul Oakley, has defected to UKIP.

Cllr Oakley, who represents Tanworth-in-Arden on Stratford District Council, says that he has been finding it increasingly difficult to represent his constituents whilst being forced to toe the party line.

Increasingly, the people of the district and county need a fresh alternative voice with some possibility of building coherent and sensible policies.

I want to represent the views of the silent majority. Close to 70 per cent of people in the district do not live in Stratford town or a large market town.

But this majority from the small villages and hamlets, the green belt and areas of outstanding natural beauty will bear the brunt of much development with little say.