A CONSERVATIVE Thurrock councillor has rejected the party whip and is to stand as a non-aligned independent until May – when he has decided not to stand for re-election.

Aveley and Uplands councillor Colin Churchman says he can 'no longer hold my hand up and support the Conservatives'.

Cllr Churchman, has had a checkered career in local politics which has included a year serving as mayor, in 2005.

He stood for the Conservatives in Aveley in May 2019 and beat incumbent councillor Peter Smith, a former UKIP colleague by 147 votes.

It was a return to the chamber for Cllr Churchman who had won the Stanford East and Corringham Town for UKIP in May 2015, but his tenure as UKIP member lasted only until July when he quit the party in a row over the way he voted in a planning meeting – backing the building of St Luke's Hospice's new facility in the green belt. He was rebuked by the UKIP local leadership – even though planning is supposed to be a non-political arena.

Cllr Colin Churchman's return to the Conservative ranks in 2016 was a pivotal moment for the Tories as they became the majority group.

Initially standing as an independent, he then rejoined the Conservatives, making them the largest group on the council.

Previously he stood as a non-aligned independent candidate in Aveley in May 2011 but came third, behind the victorious Conservative Maureen Pearce and UKIP's Tim Aker.

That was 12 months after he contested the same seat as an independent, again coming third behind winning Tory Wendy Herd and Labour's Cliff Holloway. Tim Aker was fourth and the BNP also had a candidate, David Strickson, who finished last with 369 votes in a remarkably high local election turnout of almost 60 per cent.

Cllr Churchman first became a councillor, as a Conservative, topping three Tories in the Aveley and Uplands ward who were all elected when the council was reshaped with new boundaries in June 2004. 

A charismatic councillor who embodied the borough, he was elected mayor just a year later and carried off a civic year with charisma and very much in his own style.

He chose not to stand for relection in 2008, saying he wanted to concentrate on his newly launched business and spend time with his family.

Almost 20 years after his introduction to local politics he now says 'enough is enough' and he is bowing out an angry man.

He cites the Conservatives' catastrophic mismanagement of the council's as the major cause, but is also critical of a lack of honesty and a 'blame everyone else' culture among top Tories.

He told Thurrock Nub News: "I've had enough. On the money loss, I have asked myself why I didn't question it more, but we were told by our leaders it was all good. But perhaps I should have questioned it more, especially as the media, including Nub News and the Bureau of Investigative Journalists highlighted it.

"But in the end I was just as taken back as everyone when the collapse came and I have been sickened by the way the Conservative have handled it.

"All I want to be is a bloody good councillor. I don't get all the lies and the dealings. I'm just a lowly councillor. It's lovely to represent my ward, an area where I was born and raised and I was proud to represent them.

"But what has happened is disgusting. And now we are selling off Thurrock and raising charges for residents when it's not their fault.

"I can't put my hand up to that. Not selling off the village halls and community facilities.

"Fair enough if there are commercial areas we can sell, but not the borough's heritage.

"I will do what I can until May but I am done with it. I just can't deal with the lies and the dishonesty and a leadership that doesn't listen. Not to councillors and not to the people of Thurrock."

A statement from the Conservative group on Tuesday, 7 March, says: "Cllr Colin Churchman announced to colleagues back in July 2022 that he did not intend to stand at the 2023 Local Elections in Aveley & Uplands and would step down from the Council.

"It is a great shame that Cllr Churchman has not been able to finish his term as a councillor within the Conservative Group.

"Conservative Party candidates in Thurrock are expected to put in a huge amount of time and effort to represent their residents. We look forward to putting our case to residents in Aveley & Uplands at the next election with an active candidate."

Group leader Cllr Mark Coxshall added: "It is a shame that Cllr Churchman's time at the Council has had to end on this note. However, I am truly excited by our new candidate Jacqui Maney who truly lives and breathes everything Aveley.

"Jacqui is a local resident who has already hit the ground running knocking on doors and listening to her neighbours. I can't wait to see her on the Council very soon."