A veteran Cheshire West Conservative councillor has become the second from his party to defect to Reform in recent months, saying the Tories had 'left him'.

Cllr Mark Williams has represented Christleton and Huntington for the Conservatives since 2007 but has now quit to join Nigel Farage's party.

Meanwhile, his decision brought a stinging rebuke from the leader of the local Conservative group, who described the move as 'cynical'.

Cllr Williams, who also served as Lord Mayor of Chester in 2019, is the second Conservative on Cheshire West and Chester to jump ship to Reform in recent months, following Cllr Graham Heatley in April, who represents Gowy Rural.

It brings the Reform group to three councillors after the duo joined Winsford Dene councillor Mandy Clare, who had joined Reform after previously being an independent.

With the new addition, Reform have now moved ahead of the Greens to become the fourth largest party on Cheshire West and Chester Council.

In a statement, Cllr Williams said: "I have joined Reform because of their determination to uphold British culture, identity, and values. 

"Reform has an overwhelming amount of support across the country and it is now clear to me that only they can beat Labour."

He added: "It is not my views that have changed, but the Conservative Party, which no longer acts in accordance with the views of its members."

Cheshire West and Chester Conservative group leader Adrian Waddelove, said: "I thank Mark for his 18 years of service as a Conservative councillor, and I hope he seeks a fresh mandate from the residents of Christleton and Huntington now he has found a new political 'home'.

"I suspect many of his residents will view his switch as a cynical attempt to be re-elected at the next set of local elections here in Cheshire West and Chester in 2027.

"I look forward to helping a new Conservative candidate be elected in May 2027, or earlier, at a by-election, if Mark wants to test his mandate."

The current political makeup of Cheshire West is Labour (34), Conservative (21), Green (two), independent (two), Reform UK (three), Liberal Democrat (one), Unaligned Independent (six).

There is also a vacancy in Ellesmere Port's Strawberry ward, with a by-election pencilled in for Thursday, October 2.