ALLEGED intimidatory behaviour has sparked the shock resignation of Newton Abbot’s out-going mayor from the Liberal Democrat party.

Fed-up Ann Jones is quitting the party and taking up a new role as an Independent member on both Teignbridge Council and the town council.

Cllr Jones told the Mid-Devon Advertiser that her shock switch comes a few weeks after a senior Lib Dem member confronted her.

She alleged the councillor turned on her because she was the only member of the party not to vote in the same way as the rest of her colleagues.

She claimed the district authority and town council are becoming ‘too political’ and not enough focus is being put on residents’ views.

She is ‘disgruntled’ with the Lib Dems on the district council.

The Newton Abbot councillor, who stepped down as town mayor this week, believes she’ll be able to represent townsfolk better as an Independent and will be able to vote freely – without being pressured by the party.

‘I am here for the people of Newton Abbot – not for my own gain,’ Cllr Jones declared on Wednesday evening.

She argued: ‘Both the Lib Dems and Conservatives press people into voting a certain way but we should all vote the way we want – not the way they want.’

Her surprise departure leaves 16 Lib Dems, seven Independent and 24 Tories sitting on Teignbridge Council.

Gordon Hook, leader of the district authority’s Lib Dem group, said: ‘Of course it’s always disappointing when something like this happens, but fortunately we are gaining a lot more than we are losing.’

He said that a senior Torbay Conservative councillor had recently jumped ship and joined the Lib Dems.

‘We all wish Ann well in her new home,’ Cllr Hook added.

News of the defection came just minutes after the town’s annual meeting which was deemed a ‘Lib Dem fix-up’ by town and district Independent Mike Hocking.

He hit out in the meeting after attempts to elect Independent members as leaders of different council committees were blocked by a group of Lib Dems.

Cllr Hocking also lost a battle to have an experienced Independent councillor elected as deputy mayor with Lib Dem Richard Jenks being voted into office.

After the meeting Cllr Hocking said there was a lot of animosity on the town council. ‘The authority shouldn’t be political,’ he added.