COUNCILLOR Karl Wallace has quit the Lib Dems with a blast at the party’s coalition with the Conservatives.

He also hit out at the local party for playing politics as he left to become an independent on Bridport Town Council and Dorset County Council.

Coun Wallace, who has been a party member since 1997, said: “It breaks my heart that I have to do this.

“But the Tories seem to be absorbing the Lib Dems.”

He added: “I have become incredibly disillusioned with the Lib Dems.

“I have given it a year since the formation of the coalition.

“I was hoping the situation would improve but the Lib Dems have continued to break their pledges, whether it is students’ tuition fees or not fighting for the NHS.”

Coun Wallace said that he was disillusioned with the loss of 250 nurses’ jobs in Devon recently despite pledges to protect frontline services.

“At the moment I feel that the Lib Dems are small Conservatives and nobody is sticking up for the vulnerable people.”

He added: “I will continue to work hard for Bridport and challenge the cuts.

“I will fight to keep the libraries and school crossing patrols.”

Coun Wallace was elected to Bridport Town Council in 2003 and Dorset County Council in 2009. He lost his West Dorset District Council seat in May. He had earlier been convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath to police after a car crash.

His departure takes the number of Lib Dem councillors on Bridport Town Council down to 12.

There are four Conservatives. Coun David Tett is the only other independent councillor.

Coun Wallace said he was disappointed to leave and said he had become disillusioned with the local scene as well as national situation.

“I have been part of the Lib Dems for a considerable time.

“A very small majority think they have more power than they really have.

“It is sad as we should all be working for Bridport regardless of party policies.

“At a local level, party politics should be irrelevant.”

The high-profile departure comes after Frances McKenzie defected from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives earlier this year.

Coun Sarah Williams, who is the leader of the Lib Dems on the town council, said she did not wish to comment on Coun Wallace’s decision at this stage.