A SENIOR councillor has quit the Labour Party as she no longer recognises the party it has become.

Cllr Kate Wheller, who sits on both Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council, will become an independent councillor on both authorities.

She represents Wyke Regis on the town council and the Rodwell & Wyke division on Dorset Council.

Cllr Wheller is a former borough and county councillor, also a former Weymouth and Portland mayor, but was only elected to the new authorities this year.

She said: “I can no longer stand by and watch when at national level the party obfuscates while the future of Britain lies in the balance and cries out for strong, principled leadership.”

She added: “I have been a member of the Labour Party for about 25 years and became a Labour councillor in 2002.

“At the moment the party is not a party that I recognise.

“There are so many important issues that need to be dealt with in the country like the NHS, our schools and our infrastructure.

“Instead all of our political parties are chattering and trying to score political points instead of getting on with it.”

Although she will become an independent councillor by default, Cllr Wheller said she will not join others on the council who have formed an independent group.

She explained: “I won’t be joining any other political party. My beliefs and values haven’t changed.

“I couldn’t join another party. Some of the other independent councillors have got together and formed a group, but I won’t be part of that.

“I think if I crossed the floor to another party that would be valid, but I haven’t done that. And so far, all of the phone calls and messages I have received have been of thanks for the things I do for local people and supporting my position. I have had no calls to stand down.”

Up until her resignation, Cllr Wheller was one of seven Labour members on the town council and one of just two Labour members on Dorset Council.

She added: “I certainly hope I will not have less of a say. I think people who know me will be very surprised if I had less of a say.

“Nothing has changed really. If people who phone or message me with a problem I will deal with them with same speed and dedication I have always done. Except it will be without the distraction of national and local parties making lots of noise and preventing me from getting on.”