Former town mayor Mike Rodger, who was in charge of libraries until his party were ousted by the Tories in May, resigned from the Lib Dems last week, after growing weary of the “petty sniping” from the two parties at town and district level.

Mr Rodger, 50, will continue to represent his town centre ward as an independent on Newbury Town and West Berkshire Councils, and said: “I will continue to serve the electorate of my ward to the best of my ability, as I have in the past, and will continue to demonstrate my commitment through achievement, as an independent councillor. I have now resigned from the Lib Dem groups on both councils, and look forward to exciting times.”

He added that his time as Mayor, which ended in April, had proved to him it was possible to be non-political and yet still represent the best interests of the people. “It’s disappointing to watch blanket shows of hands, taken along pre-agreed party lines. No wonder politicians are viewed with such disdain and not believed by the public.”

Amid increasingly fractious relations between the two political groups – the latest finger-pointing has embroiled the doomed Charles Clore Unit – Conservative council leader Graham Jones said there were lessons to learn for both sides.

He said: "With his experience as Mayor as well as on the Executive he was one of their bigger personalities."

"We should all listen to what he has to say about the sometimes negative

side of party politics. We should be spending our time serving our

community and not scoring points off each other"