I QUIT: Geraldine Robertson pictured promoting a community clean upSWINDON'S Liberal Democrats are in meltdown, according to the Tories, after a second resignation in less than two months.

Coun Geraldine Frost (formerly Robertson) has left the party and will now represent her Freshbrook and Grange Park ward as an independent councillor.

Her resignation follows that of Coun Michael Dickinson, representing the Central ward, who left to become independent then joined the Tories a few days later.

The two departures, following unresolved differences, now leaves the party with just five councillors.

But Coun Frost said the timing of her resignation so soon after Coun Dickinson's was an unfortunate coincidence.

"I'm extremely saddened by the fact that I have resigned from the group," she said.

"I have had concerns for several months.

"There have been some important issues which unfortunately I have been unable to resolve with the group.

"I've not made any decisions about the future. I'm taking one day at a time."

She added that she did not feel it was necessary for her to resign her seat and stand again as an independent.

"I'm the same person they elected," she said.

"I care just as much about the community and the town. The only thing that has happened is I have had an issue with my group."

But the resignation has brought criticism of the Lib Dems from the Conservatives.

Coun Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads), lead member for Swindon Services, said: "The Lib Dems are clearly in meltdown. A week doesn't go by without yet another disaster rolling out from the Lib Dem office.

"Geraldine is an extremely hard-working local ward councillor and her loss is not only a major blow for the Lib Dems but also raises serious questions about the Swindon Lib Dems.

"Their opportunist policies have lead to disastrous June 04 election results.

"It is time the Lib Dems looked at how the Conservatives are prepared to roll up their sleeves and help offer a real alternative to Labour."

But Coun Chris Shepherd (Freshbrook and Grange Park), leader of the Lib Dems, denied there was a crisis and hit back at the Tories.

"They ought to get on with running the council rather than playing politics with what is happening in the Lib Dem group," he said.

"We're a failing council and they need to get on with their job.

"We have a group of strongly committed councillors who really do want to be in there making a difference."

He added that Coun Frost had resigned for personal reasons and said he would be astonished if she joined another political party.

The resignation takes the party under the threshold for being entitled to a paid political assistant.

But the threshold, holding 10 per cent of council seats, is applied when political assistants sign a contract so the Lib Dems will not lose their entitlement until the contract expires.

Isabel Field