The Conservative group on Hillingdon Council has hit back at a long-serving councillor's decision to leave the party.

Councillor David Bishop has represented Northwood Hills for 17 years, but became independent on Friday, August 31.

In a letter to Ray Puddifoot, leader of the Conservative group, he said: "I am deprived of any influence over decisions made and feel marginalised, demoralised and demotivated. My loyalty to the Conservative group has been stretched to the limit and I feel too much power and authority is centralised and controlled by the executive."

Cllr Bishop said he will concentrate solely on representing the people of his ward in the future.

But the Conservative group has hit back, demanding Cllr Bishop to step down to run in a by-election as an independent candidate.

Cllr Puddifoot said: "He was elected on the back of Conservative achievements, and while he genuinely believes he was elected because he is David Bishop, every other councillor knows that none of us, no matter how big our egos are, would have been elected as an independent."

Cllr Bishop will no longer have access to Conservative Party resources, cannot sit on any committees and did not attend the group meeting on Monday, September 3. But the party says he will not be a huge loss.

However, Lib Dem councillor Mike Cox, defended Cllr Bishop. He said: "I believe the situation in the Conservative group is as described by him, arrogant and bullying. Councillor Bishop has supported the council line religiously, until now when he has clearly had enough."

However, Cllr Cox did support the Conservative group's suggestion of a by-election in Northwood Hills.

He said: "I would welcome a by-election, so the people of Northwood Hills can tell the council what they think of them."