WITH reference to Cllr Borthwick’s defection to the Conservatives, a defecting councillor thwarts the will of the people. The election was less than a week ago and if the voters of Muscliffe and Throop wanted a Tory councillor they would have elected one.

Voters want honesty in their representatives, and that means that if you fall out with the party or group who got you elected in the first place you should resign and fight.

Councillor Borthwick should do the honourable thing and resign. He can then stand as a Conservative candidate in Muscliffe & Throop.

He can also pay the £5,000 it costs to hold a by-election.

He has made a mockery of the electoral process and lost the respect of residents in the ward.

FIONA DOUGHERTY-PRICE (former independent candidate, Throop and Muscliff), Edifred Road, Muscliff