Brentwood's warring Tories have again been plunged into crisis this week following the shock resignation of another leading member.

Cllr Alison Enkel, who represents Brentwood Rural on Essex County Council, announced on Wednesday that she has decided to leave the Conservative Party and continue as an independent.

It is the latest in a series of blows for the Brentwood and Ongar party, following the expulsion of honorary treasurer Tony Donnelly and Cllr Tony Galbraith over the party's links with the Peniel Church and the resignation of council leader Valerie Fletcher.

Explaining her decision, Cllr Enkel said: "I have been feeling disillusioned and out of step with the Conservative Party for over a year now. I have felt obliged to remain a Conservative member through a misplaced sense of loyalty and a feeling that 'things could only get better'.

"Unfortunately things only got worse. I have been disappointed by decisions made by the party at the national level. I feel that I have not received support at county - quite the opposite. I feel I cannot represent my electorate properly as a Conservative member."

Cllr Enkel's decision also looks likely to create problems for the Conservative administration of the county council, which now finds itself with a minority of two members just a week away from the council's annual general meeting.

Cllr Brandon Lewis, chairman of Brentwood and Ongar Conservative Association, confirmed 'with sadness' that Cllr Enkel's resignation had been received but insisted that the door would remain open.

He said: "We hope that when she has had time to reflect on her decision she may reconsider her resignation and rejoin the Conservative Party and the Conservative group at Essex County Council."

But Tony Donnelly, now president of the newly-formed Brentwood and Ongar Independent Conservatives, said: "The resignation of another leading Tory is a devastating blow for the party."

Alison Enkel says she will be standing in the parish council elections as 'an individual'.

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