A FORMER Conservative Party councillor who stepped down from the party over the treatment of the current mayor says he may seek re-election.

Oswestry Town Councillor who has stepped down from the Conservative Party insists he will stand for re-election next year.

Councillor Jay Moore stood down from the Conservative Party over issues he believed to be political.

He admitted he felt Conservative Party members on the council were trying to alter traditions surrounding the office of the mayor in a bid to have a Conservative councillor take on the role during an election year.

But Cllr Moore has confirmed he will stand for re-election, albeit not as a Conservative Party representative.

“Obviously I won’t be standing as a Conservative,” he said. “But the idea at the moment is that I am going to stand again for election.

“I’m going to approach it with no labels at this point – I’m not exactly sure what my approach is going to be.

“My agenda has always been to do what I feel is best, primarily for the young people of Oswestry, as that has always been my focus within the council – to help with youth issues, but also to help the people of Oswestry in general.

“I’m not content with just sitting on the council if I’m not doing work to help.

“All I know is I’m going to run again, but in what capacity I’m not sure yet.”

Cllr Moore felt Conservative Party members were attempting to change council standing orders to prevent Councillor Duncan Kerr from taking on the duty of mayor for the current term.

He continued: “My feeling was that the Conservative Party were intentionally trying to change the standing orders of the council to allow a Conservative Party member to become mayor, specifically for this year as it is the election year.

“So it is quite important to have a mayor from the party during the election year because it brings quite a lot of press.

“That’s really what I felt their motives were – I was told they were concerned Cllr Kerr was going to bring the reputation of the council into question.

“Councillor Peter Cherrington gave a speech at a meeting about why he believed Cllr Kerr wasn’t suitable for the office of mayor, and I didn’t really feel like there was any weight to anything that was said, so I chose to vote against the Conservative Party on that instance.

“I felt they were essentially, for lack of a better word, trying to bully their way into having the position of mayor for the election year.”

The councillor was full of praise for the current mayor of Oswestry, adding: “I think he has been a fantastic mayor so far – I’m liking how he’s challenging the status quos a little.

“He’s getting out into the community and really helping out with things – he’s had a t-shirt printed up for the mayor of Oswestry rather than the traditional ceremonial robes.

“I think he’s practical and hands on and a lot more humble as a mayor.”