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RAGLAN'S Andrew Crump feels he has been "stabbed in the back" by his own party after he was ousted last week as leader of Monmouthshire County Council.

He admitted: "I feel gutted at what has happened and also a little disappointed, having promoted most of the members of the present cabinet from the ranks. It does feel that I have been stabbed in the back."

Last week Cllr Crump shocked everyone at the council when he resigned from the Conservative group and joined Independents Simon Howarth and Plaid Cymru member Ron Stewart, who have formed their own group.

He said: "I would have liked another four years to see it all come to fruition, things like our joint health and social services working, the redevelopment of Abergavenny Cattle Market and the building of a new livestock market for our farmers.

"I feel we've done so much to raise the profile of Monmouthshire, especially in our joint working between health services and social services which is held up as a model for the rest of Wales."

He says he left the Conservatives because he felt it would have been difficult for new leader Cllr Peter Fox if he had still been in the background. Now he plans a good holiday in Spain and then he will rethink his future.

Since Cllr Crump became leader in 2004 the Tories have gone from holding 23 seats on the council to 29 at the recent election. Before that he was leader of a hung council for a year, with Conservatives holding 19 seats and Labour 18, but that was reversed with two by-elections in 2002.

A close friend, who did not want to be named, said: "If the Tories can do this to someone with his success as leader I hate to think what they'd do to someone who messed things up.

There is no doubt he is very hurt."

Cllr Howarth welcomed Cllr Crump's defection to the Independent group. He said: "He has been a good leader and an excellent councillor for Raglan, and he will have more time to represent his constituents now. I will miss retiring Independents Ashley Thomas and Bob Wilcox and Andrew will help fill the void with his knowledge and expertise."

At last week's council meeting Cllr Fox was elected leader and Cllr Bob Greenland his deputy. But tributes were paid to Cllr Crump for his leadership, and Cllr Fox said they had worked well together and become good friends.

8:51am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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