The Conservative party has lost its majority at Gloucestershire County Council.

This follows the move of a former Conservative councillor to the Green Party.

Cllr Sue Williams, who has represented Bisley and Painswick division since 2021, joined the Green group at Shire Hall on Friday (May 10).

This means the number of Conservatives on the council has fallen from 27 to 26, bringing the group below the threshold required for a majority and risking the balance of power for the Conservative administration.

Cllr Williams said her decision had been prompted by having lost faith in the Conservative Party nationally.

She said: "Over the past months, I have grown increasingly disillusioned and angry, and I cannot - morally or ethically - ignore my conflicting views as an individual and as a Conservative Party member.

"I can no longer defend the party's stance on many issues and policies, including the treatment of asylum seekers fearing deportation to Rwanda, and the way the benefits system has been made so very difficult for those in need to navigate."

Cllr Williams added that she had not taken the decision to resign as a Conservative councillor lightly, and that she had been "honoured and proud" to represent Gloucestershire as vice-chair of the council.

She continued: "I appreciate that my decision may be a disappointment to those who continue to support the Conservative Party. I wish to reassure all residents within my division that I will continue to work hard for the communities I represent.

"I want to represent a party that people can trust, and I believe that the Greens are a party of integrity. Having studied the Green Party's priorities, policies and local manifesto - and having asked many questions - I feel very aligned with their policies and vision for the future.

"Green Party councillors are environmentally driven, not just in terms of biodiversity, the climate crisis and sustainability, but also in terms of our communities, our shared spaces and developing vibrant economies."

Cllr Williams's defection increases the Green group to five. The existing Greens are Cllr Cate Cody (Tewkesbury), Cllr Beki Hoyland (Forest of Dean: Blakeney and Bream), Cllr Chris McFarling (Forest of Dean: Sedbury) and Cllr Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton).

Cllr Cate Cody, leader of the GCC Green group, said: "All of us have worked with Sue on various committees and we know her to be a councillor who is gentle, compassionate and conscientious. We appreciate her diligence and admire her determination to do the right thing for her constituents, regardless of party politics. We are very happy to welcome her to the Green group."

Cllr Williams is the second councillor to switch to the Greens in Gloucestershire this year. Cllr Helen Fenton, originally elected to Stroud District Council as a Labour councillor, joined the Green group in February after a spell as an Independent.

The next Gloucestershire County Council elections will take place in May 2025.

The political make up of the council is now:

Conservatives: 26

Liberal Democrats: 16

Labour: 5

Green: 5

Independent: 1