Scarborough Council's only UKIP councillor quits party and will sit as independent

Scarborough’s only UKIP councillor has quit the party, blaming rows and suspensions at a national and local level for his decision.
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Neil Heritage was elected in May last year to represent Newby ward and was one of only a handful of seats the party won nationally in the local authority elections that year.

Cllr Heritage has now confirmed that he has resigned and will sit as an independent on Scarborough Borough Council.

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He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that while he’d had “offers” to join other groups he would not be joining any.

Cllr Neil Heritage. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard PonterCllr Neil Heritage. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard Ponter
Cllr Neil Heritage. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard Ponter

He added that he had become disillusioned with UKIP over the suspension of members locally and how recent leadership elections had been held.

In his resignation letter, he wrote: “I am therefore with deep sadness, abandoning the sinking ship.

“My desire to work for the community I have been elected to represent and persevere in trying to making a difference will only be impeded by my association with UKIP in its current administration.

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“I will continue my role as an independent councillor and will go into my next elections as an independent councillor.

“This party is now losing one of its last councillors above town and parish due to its incompetence, leadership and refusal to admit blame of what they have done to the party.”