THE Green Party has gained another councillor in Weymouth and Portland after Claudia Moore crossed the floor from the Conservatives.

Cllr Moore, who has been a councillor for Weymouth West since 2014, said she felt “more closely aligned with the Greens”, but also expressed concern about some Tory decisions.

It means the Greens will have two councillors on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council – Cllr Moore joins Cllr Jon Orrell who was elected this year.

The Conservatives still have the most councillors on the authority with 13, but now only one ahead of Labour. The council still has no overall controlling political party.

Cllr Moore said: “I feel much more closely aligned with the Greens on important issues and share their core values.

"I have been increasingly impressed with the hard work of the local Green Party, the determination of (county councillor) Clare Sutton and Jon Orrell, the dedication of their community litter picking team and their continuous campaigning for residents, especially tackling serious issues like air pollution."

She added: “Whilst my decision has been influenced largely by positive motivations I have become gradually more concerned by Conservative Party policies and decisions.

“On a local level this includes the lack of support for Castle Cove Beach access, the planning decision for Asda petrol station and the disregard for local residents’ opinions on the North Quay development site.

"I cannot remain in a political party that upholds our unfair and outdated voting system or inflicts terrible cuts to disability benefits.”

Conservative group leader on the council Cllr Jeff Cant said: “We’re obviously disappointed by this decision. Claudia has been a councillor for a relatively short period, and we have been aware over time that she has been interested in some of the ideas of the other groups.

“We’re sorry to lose her but we respect her decision.”

Cllr Cant said particular council decisions referred to by Cllr Moore were decisions made by all councillors.

He suggested that voters in the Weymouth West ward will be ‘frustrated’ as the person they elected now has ‘different views’.

Cllr Moore, this year’s Weymouth Carnival Queen, is up for election again in 2018.

West and South Dorset Green Party said it was delighted to welcome Cllr Moore, both as a member and as a local government representative.

Cllr Jon Orrell said: “I warmly and enthusiastically welcome Claudia to the Greens.

“Her involvement with the Friends of Rodwell Trail shows a passion for our natural world and outdoor spaces. Her support for Second Chance Furniture shows concern for those in need. These are the two motivations for Greens; politics where the planet and people matter.”

Weymouth West ward forms part of the Dorset County Council Division of Rodwell where Clare Sutton is the Green councillor.

Cllr Sutton said: “This is great news. I have always found Claudia to be an honest, principled and extremely likeable person, a real ‘doer’ within our community. To me, this, and ensuring local decision makers are held to account, is what matters most in local politics.”

Green campaign coordinator Caz Dennett added: “We applaud Claudia for having the moral courage to act on her values and principles and for making them publicly known.

“Some people might suggest becoming an independent councillor would have been an easier decision to make, but to represent the community as an independent when you favour a political party would be misleading. If someone believes they are aligned to a party’s values, it is only honest and fair to say so.”

Cllr Moore has reassured residents that she will continue to put their interests first and do the right thing for Weymouth West.

She explained this can best be done with the support of the Green Party.