Defecting UKIP councillor admits politics is ‘not strong point’

UKIP’S last metropolitan councillor in the West Midlands has admitted she was “not great with politics” as she defected to the Tories this week.

The defection of Kerry Lewis to the Conservatives on Dudley Council has left the Brexit party with no councillors in the country’s biggest urban conurbation outside London.

It is the final straw for the party in the borough which saw six of their councillors lose their seats in local elections The party lost 123 seats nationally.

The defection of Cllr Lewis leaves the party with no elected members on any of the West Midlands’ seven metropolitan councils.

The 38 year-old childcare provider said she left UKIP because she felt she couldn’t represent her constituents as the sole member of the party on the council.

Commenting on May’s elec- tions she said: “A lot of people feel UKIP may have served their purpose in regards Brexit. I think a lot of people have gone back to their old voting grounds of either Labour or Conservatives.

Saying she did not regret leaving UKIP, she explained: “No, I’m still going to be a community councillor and I can do far more for my ward and residents of Dudley being part of the Conservative group.

“This is a new chapter for me and I am looking forward to working with the Conservative group and learning more.”

She said she wants to get on with representing the people of Wordsley Ward on Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, adding: “Politics is not my strong point, never has been.

“It’s always been community focused, and that is what I am all about. It’s never been about politics.”

Asked if UKIP has a future, she replied: “Maybe not. We saw the results so the people have spoken and you can’t argue against that.

“I just want to represent the people of Dudley and of my ward.”

She then admitted: “I’m not great with politics. You can ask anybody. I am a local community councillor. Regardless of what party, you’re here to represent the local people.”

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