ONE of Thurrock's two remaining Conservative councillors has launched a scathing attack on the borough council's new leader for 'changing political directions'.

The comments come in a release from Tory Qaisar Abbas, who retained his West Thurrock seat alongside new Conservative councillor Elena Pelin. Cllr Abbas was originally elected in the ward for Labour but switched to the Conservatives after being deselected by his party.

He held the seat in the 2022 election and has now won it three times.

In the wake of his latest success he was quick to condemn Reform, following their overwhelming success which saw them win 45 out of the council's 49 seats – and he was caustic about Reform's newly-appointed leader Cllr Richard Bingley.

Cllr Abbas said: "Despite Reform professing to get rid of career politicians, they have just selected one to be leader of Thurrock Council. This is a man who has changed political parties nearly as often as the Labour government u-turns.

"And he is Reform's director for London, which begs the question, does Reform see Thurrock as London? Do they want us to come under Sadiq Khan? Will they neglect our Essex identity and heritage?

"It is not surprising that Reform have elected him to be their leader. Just a quick Google search shows a complete disregard for residents' feelings with him signing off on the cutting down of over 100 trees under the cover of darkness and bringing a council into disrepute with his behaviour. This is not the change we need in Thurrock.

"Residents can be reassured that your Conservative councillors will be holding Reform administration to account, and we will be watching to see if his latest change of political party comes a change of approach to protecting our green spaces, wildlife, and heritage."

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Cllr Bingley, who has previous represented the Conservative, Labour and UKIP parties, including two stints on Thurrock Council during which he defected from the Tories to Labour, said in a statement last week that there had been "an absolute and sustained failure in political leadership in Thurrock throughout my lifetime".

He added: "My priority is to build a future for Thurrock that delivers sound finances, business investment and jobs so we can rebuild trust in this council."