A CONSERVATIVE councillor has threatened to defect after claiming he was no longer wanted by his party.

Stephen Aylen, who has served Belfairs ward for 15 years, believes members of his ward committee have voted to deselect him from standing as a Tory candidate in next year’s Southend Council elections.

The alleged snub has prompted him to consider campaigning as an Independent candidate in the same ward.

Mr Aylen said: “I have heard through a third party the ward committee has chosen to deselect me as a candidate.

“I’m stunned. I have given a lot to this ward and to the people living in it and I would stand again, possibly as an Independent, if I cannot be a Conservative. I think I probably just asked too many awkward questions.”

Tory candidates for council seats in the west of the borough are chosen by Southend West Conservative Association.

Mr Aylen believes his ward committee – made up of about eight Conservative members living in Belfairs – has recommended he is not chosen to stand for the party when his seat comes up for re-election in May.

The decision would still have to be ratified by the association before Mr Aylen could be removed.

The long-serving councillor has proved an outspoken character in the Civic Centre since he was first elected in May, 1997.

He was a strident critic of the Tories’ £5million revamp of the Progress Road and A127 junction, which was completed earlier this year.

Mr Aylen wanted a horse-friendly pegasus crossing to be installed as part of the changes, to make it easier for riders crossing the road, but was overruled by Conservative leaders.

In August, Tory bosses were forced to quash rumours that ousted councillor Anna Waite, who lost her St Luke’s seat in May, would be selected as a candidate in Mr Aylen’s place next year.

No one from Southend West Conservatives was willing to comment on Mr Aylen’s latest claims, but Tory council leader Nigel Holdcroft said he was mistaken.

He added: “Steve Aylen has not been deselected.

“No candidate has as yet been selected for Belfairs, and my understanding is he has been requested to confirm if he wants to be considered.

“If so, the usual process will be pursued involving him and any other potential candidates.”