Bridlington resident and East Riding of Yorkshire Councillor Maria Bowtell has left the Conservative Party to join Reform UK.
Maria has also announced that she has been selected to fight the new Bridlington and the Wolds constituency for Reform at the next general election.
Elected as the member for Bridlington Central and Old Town last May, Maria says she will continue to work hard for local residents and put their needs first.
Maria explained:”I got involved in politics because I care deeply about my area and the wider East Yorkshire. I was elected as a Conservative because my values aligned with the centre right of politics, which is still the case, and I believe is still true for many ERYC members.
“However, I do not feel the Conservatives nationally reflect this, and I cannot continue as a member of a weak and fractured party which seems to fear the truth and have complete disdain for the working class.
Tighter controls on immigration, lower taxes and creating opportunities for generations to come are among the main goals for Maria – along with a strong economy creating jobs for local people and plans to help communities prosper.
Mother-of-one Maria was born and raised in Bridlington. She currently works for a sea food company on the Carnaby Industrial Estate.
She added: “For me, health is a top priority. As a member of Bridlington Health Forum I know how difficult it is for people in the town and surrounding areas to access healthcare they need, want and deserve.
She added “Our police do a great job in cracking down on drugs, anti-social behaviour and rural crime that blights our lives, and I will do everything I can to support them.”
A spokesperson from the East Riding Conservative Group, said: “We are disappointed by the decision of Cllr Bowtell.
“We firmly believe in principled politicians who respect the views and wishes of their residents.
“As councillors elected by our residents as Conservatives, we will continue to work hard to address the issues and improve the services which affect them, from fixing the roads to delivering good social care for our loved ones; whilst also delivering on our devolution ambitions to secure more jobs and more funding for our region.”
