RULING Tories on Tendring Council accused political opponents of “exploiting” a councillor’s death to seize back power.

Neil Stock, leader of the Conservative administration, criticised the Tendring First-led opposition for calling an emergency council meeting before a by-election in the wake of cabinet member Charlie Sambridge’s death.

Burrsville ward councillor Mr Sambridge, who was for technical services, died on July 23 following a stroke. Mr Sambridge’s widow, Pam, will be contesting the by-election for the Conservatives. It is understood it will be held on September 24 at the earliest.

Mr Stock said the opposition, which lost power at the council’s annual meeting in May, could try to seize power after calling for an extraordinary meeting of the council at the end of the month.

Mr Sambridge’s death means there are 29 Tory and Community Representative party councillors and 30 opposition members, all affiliated to Tendring First.

Mr Stock said: “This is unbelievably arrogant and flies in the face of democracy. The by-election will be held in a few weeks, and if my party fail to hold the seat, I will be quite happy to resign as leader. Until that time, it is wholly inappropriate for the opposition to try to exploit this sad death for political purposes.”

Tendring First leader David Lines said the opposition called the meeting after hearing the Conservatives had chosen a candidate before a by-election had been called.

He added they were unhappy with cabinet plans to cut a series of leisure projects, offer free airshow tickets and spend money on administrative support and Blackberry mobile telephones.

He said the “final straw” was the Conservative administration offering Mr Sambridge’s cabinet post to a member of his group, a claim Mr Stock denies. He added: “Many people might feel that Mr Stock and his colleagues are already well-practised in the art of political exploitation.”