OUSTED Tory councillor Jack Duffin has set up an intriguing election battle by announcing he will be contesting a seat at the forthcoming elections where he is bidding to spring a major upset.

Cllr Duffin, one of two Conservatives to vote against his party's 2024 budget at the last meeting of Thurrock's full council, immediately had the Tory whip withdrawn and is now listed as an independent councillor – though he has not joined the five-strong alliance on non-political independents.

Cllr Duffin's current term of office comes to an end in May but, after previously saying he would not be continuing his political career locally and not re-standing in his Stanford East and Corringham Town ward.

However, the budget spat with the Tories appears to have rekindled his political fire and the former UKIP, Thurrock Independent Group and Tory councillor will take on celebrity Tory David van Day in the Orsett seat about to be vacated by current mayor Cllr Sue Little.

Labour is set to nominate former councillor and ex-mayor Carl Morris to represent them in what will now be at least a three way fight for one of the safest Conservative seats in the borough.

To add intrigue, Cllr Duffin's campaign has been endorsed by prominent local Conservative Brian Little, husband of the current mayor who had asked to be nominated by the Conservatives for the seat but was rejected in favour of former pop star and TV personality Mr van Day, who lost his Aveley and Uplands seat by 20 votes to Labour's Srikanth Panjala by 20 votes in 2022, ending a four year term of office.

Sources have told Thurrock Nub News that decision caused significant rifts within the Orsett Tory branch, one of the party's strongest and the decision by influential Mr Little, himself a former Conservative councillor, appears a reflection of that.

On Cllr Duffin's election material, Mr Little is pictured and quoted, saying: "I have known Jack for eight years. he has always argued the case for the people he has represented.

"He is forthright and energetic. I trust Jack to work tirelessly for you.

"As your previous local councillor and a long time Orsett resident I am delighted to endorse Jack Duffin."

The Orsett ward is the largest in the borough.

In his election material Mr Day, who has dropped the 'van' from his name for the campaign, says his aim is to be a 'strong new voice' for Orsett, Bulphan and Horndon on the Hill and adds he will be fighting a campaign to 'much-loved green spaces, ensure anti-social behaviour and crime is prevented and stopped and holding the NHS to account.

In 2008, Van Day was a semi-finalist on the eighth series of British reality television show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! In his singing career Mr Day, 67, was part of the hugely successful duo Dollar and also appeared in the line-ups of Guys 'n' Dolls and Bucks Fizz.

At the last local election fought in the ward, Cllr Barry Johnson beat Labour rival Gary Watson by polling 1095 votes, retaining his seat and increasing his majority with a winning margin of 73 per cent.

Cllr Johnson had replaced Mr Little, who stood down after one term, winning his seat in 2014. He received 1013 votes, and won the seat with 49 per cent of the vote against a strong challenge from UKIP's Clive Broad, whose campaign was co-ordinated by Cllr Duffin. Now the two rivals are allied to try and chip away again that the relatively rock steady 1,000 vote  Tory stronghold.

The ordett ward is widespread and includes the villages of Orsett, Bulphan and Horndon on the Hill and the Southlands and Bonners housing developments adjacent to the old A13.