A SOCIAL media storm has erupted in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham this evening following confirmation of the fact that Cllr Shane Ralph, as first predicted on Thurrock Nub News, has joined the Conservative party just nine months after beating their candidate in the local elections - and six months after slamming them as a 'calamity Tory council that has to go'.

The tone of the criticism has shocked many in the local community, not least Cllr Ralph's wife who has called on the local community to respect a 'good man' and his family.

Cllr Ralph was elected as a representative of the Independent Group in last May's elections, ironically beating another 'turncoat' Tory candidate into second place.

His Stanford East and Corringham Town seat had previously been held by Cllr Colin Churchman who won it as a UKIP candidate but then defected to the Tories while in office. He was switched to a safer Tory seat as a reward.

Ironically the Conservative fielded another former UKIP councillor and Thurrock Independent Group founder, turned Tory, in Roy Jones as their candidate but the electorate preferred to vote for Mr Ralph who stood in an independent ticket.

And in July last year, after his victory, Cllr Ralph blasted the Conservatives in Thurrock over their record in his ward. He called them a calamity Tory council. Yet today, he issued the following statement as he declared his allegiance with the Tories: "They truly do have Stanford and Corringham residents' issues at heart."

The bizarre turnaround of opinion has infuriated many in Stanford and Corringham – though others have sprung to his defence.

Among them is his wife, Samantha who posted the following: "Shane is a good man with a good heart and all he ever wanted to do was to make a difference in the town where he grew up and I believe he's done some really good work since being elected last May and will continue to do so, no matter what party he's in....as it shouldn't matter.

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"People's opinion shouldn't be to be jump on the situation by being mean and saying nasty things about him, it should be used for saying what good he has done and appreciate the fact that he had no choice in this whole thing but to do what he has done!

"He either had to stay and lose power in this area or to go with an offer of an opposing party and keep a place to continue his future with the council.

"He knew that this choice wouldn't be welcomed by all and he expected a backlash over it but he has had to do what is right for him, me and our girls and I just want you all to realise that he's only human and I believe that he only wants to please people, he doesn't want to upset anyone with his choices but along the way, you cannot please everyone all of the time.

"Please respect us and our family."

The suggestion by Mrs Ralph that her husband had little choice, adds some weight to growing reports as a number of other independent councillors have defected, that the Conservative group is threatening to cut financial and other support for wards where independents have won seats in some sort of political retribution or blackmail.