THE man who single-handedly doubled Swindon's contingent of independent councillors has been explaining his reasons for leaving the Labour group.

David Wren, the Dorcan councillor who resigned from the Labour group last week, believes he should not stand down and take his chances in a by-election as his views have not changed. He also believes that more councillors will follow his lead and form an independent group.

He told the Evening Advertiser: "I decided to resign from the Labour group because I no longer respect or feel comfortable working with certain people within the group, and the wider party. It is unfortunate, but once a councillor resigns the whip they are expelled from the party."

Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town & Lawns), leader of the council, said: "On a personal basis, I think that if somebody leaves the group they were elected on then there should automatically be a by-election.

Wendy Johnson (Con, Old Town & Lawns), group leader for the Liberal Democrats, said: "If the people who elected him did so on a particular manifesto, perhaps it's a matter for his own conscience whether he can still represent them. If he still adheres to those principles it's difficult to see why he's resigned the whip."

Coun Wren said: "Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Mike Bawden didn't say this when Michael Dickinson joined the Conservative group. All a by-election does is cause expense for the borough.

"My basic political views haven't changed. I will just have to exercise them without being a member of the Labour group.

"I don't see the point of resigning as I haven't switched political allegiance and I don't intend to.

"I have never had any political ambitions beyond having a real interest in the running of the borough and trying to resolve any problems for the people within my ward.

"I have done this for the last three years and will continue to do so until my term finishes in May 2006, when I will most probably stand as an Independent candidate."

He says he intends to join up with the other independent councillor Geraldine Frost (Freshbrook and Grange Park).

He said: "Since becoming a councillor I have recognised that there are no black and white answers to the challenges that face the town so I am pleased to be joining another independent councillor. In today's political climate I dare say there will be others who join us."

Michael Barnes (Lab, Western), who is the Labour group chairman, said he regretted Coun Wren's decision to resign, but was not aware of any major personality clashes within the group.

He claimed the party did not have a problem with the Dorcan councillor.

Dave Andrew