Colin packs his bags for UKIP – but not this year

All change at Scarborough Town Hall, as another councillor has defected to UKIP

Borough councillor Colin Haddington cut his ties with the Conservatives over NHS pay, and has now put an end to  rumours by confirming he will join UKIP.

He made the decision after talking to local UKIP chiefs, along with Scarborough leader – and fellow Filey councillor – Sam Cross.

But in a statement, he said: “To stand under UKIP’s banner ahead of May’s elections would be unfair on the public who elected me as a Conservative councillor.

“I have had a lengthy discussion with the Chair of the Scarborough and Whitby Branch of UKIP and it is my intention to become a member of UKIP and hopefully be selected to stand as a UKIP candidate for the Filey Ward in next year’s elections.

“However I have made the decision to see out the last few months of this term of office as a councillor with no political  affiliation.

“I feel this is only fair to the electorate of Filey who voted me into this term of office and may not agree to me swapping political parties during a term of office.”

Currently, UKIP has two councillors in the town hall, with Whitby’s Mike Ward also recently crossing the chamber.

But the party recently told The Scarborough News that it will be fielding a candidate in each ward in May – and aims to at least treble its presence on the borough council.

A Filey candidate is also understood to be standing against council chief Cllr Tom Fox

Cllr Cross declined to comment.