WHAT a disgraceful thing to do. One week ago the voters of the Throop and Muscliff ward of Bournemouth Council elected you, Derek Borthwick, standing as an Independent, as their councillor.

Days later you then took it upon yourself to cock a snook at the 1,037 people who cast their vote for you as an Independent by suddenly joining the ruling Conservative party.

The voters of Throop and Muscliff had the choice of voting for a Conservative candidate at the election last week but the majority chose not to do so.

The most votes any of the three Conservative candidates standing in this ward polled was 674. In fact, the voters elected in three people standing as Independents - including you.

What seismic political matter of principle and conscience drove you, Cllr Borthwick, to snub this choice of the electorate?

Apparently, you felt “isolated” because your Independent colleagues “appeared to support the Labour Party leader as spokesman for the opposition”.

I am sorry, Cllr Borthwick, but that view does not justify you in ignoring the voters’ preference and behaving like a political butterfly.

You were voted in as an Independent but, in this instance, have failed to show any spirit of independence yourself.

It was not down to political inexperience, for you were an Independent councillor for the ward prior to last week’s election. This time, you even stood under the banner of ‘People before Politics’. Really?

In your election address, Cllr Borthwick, you boasted, rather ironically it seems to me, of your past “unpolitical actions at the council” adding that, “Independent councillors can make a difference”.

You’ve certainly proved that. By reneging on the wishes of the electorate who voted you in.

Step down now, councillor. You’re fickle, if not cynical, action discredits democracy.

A by-election should be called. Now.