The Mayor of Gloucester has accused an unnamed political rival of a campaign of dirty tricks and threats against her during the run up to last week's local election poll.



Kathy Williams, who was voted out of the city council in Thursday's local elections, says she is taking legal action amid claims of "bully-boy tactics" and alleged video edits which she said misrepresented her work in office.

The Conservative councillor, who has represented the city's Longlevens ward for the last 18 years, will remain Gloucester's Mayor till May 20, when she will hand over her chain of office to her successor at the council AGM.

After a decade's role in the cabinet, Clllr Williams stepped down last May to become Mayor of Gloucester. 

All three seats in her ward were won by Liberal Democrat contenders at Thursday's elections. You can read the update of the final vote here.



In a Facebook post today where she thanked followers and their support, Cllr Williams claimed another city councillor, from a different party and ward, ran an online social media campaign to discredit both her and fellow Conservative councillor Justin Hudson, the current Sheriff and deputy Mayor.



Cllr Williams said: "It would seem the retirement I had planned from the city council has now happened!"

She added that the result was "Not quite how I expected after serving the people of Longlevens as a city councillor for 18 years."



She said: "Longlevens now has three Liberal councillors and whilst I am no longer a city councillor, I remain as the Conservative County Councillor for Longlevens and will continue to deal with issues relating to the county council that residents need assistance with.



"I have enjoyed my years as a city councillor and leave when the regeneration programme for our city is coming to fruition.

"I just hope it is completed as planned and the city will continue to see the changes that will enhance both our history, but our commerce as well?"

And in a blistering revelation, she said: "Unfortunately in this election campaign myself and others have been at the receiving end of threats made by an opposition councillor not from Longlevens but from another district in the city, with an online social media campaign made to discredit myself and my colleague Justin Hudson.



"A lot was made by this individual of the councillor allowances being increased. A photo shopped clip of the voting that took place on the allowances was cut and clipped to look as if it was just myself and Justin putting our hands up for a pay rise. The councillor who did this and posted it across various noticeboards in the city failed to tell everyone that their partner also voted for the rise and also this councillor then voted for the rise themselves on the county council!

"By the way, the allowance is £2.40 per hour based on the hours I worked doing city council duties.



"Now a few of you know who exactly I am referring to but a lot will not and I am not naming them on here as I will deal with this through proper channels and not on social media.

 This behaviour is being dealt with as it is dirty, bully boy tactics and there is no place for this in a democracy. Unfortunately it will continue, I am afraid, until someone makes a stand.



"I truly believe in Karma and just hope this will happen before someone else becomes the victim."



Finding willing people to stand for local government was becoming less attractive, she said, due to "easy access social media posts that are full of lies and hate".

She further asserted: "I have even been 'stalked' as I had blocked this individual only to find out that they could use another phone to access me.



"I am also still the Mayor of Gloucester until May 20th. Justin Hudson is still the Sheriff of Gloucester until then and together we continue to serve the City as the Civic representatives until the City Council AGM .

"So thank you to those of you who voted for me this time it was very much appreciated."



The Tories held 21 of the 39 seats on Gloucester City Council and were in charge of the authority - but after losing 10 seats on polling day the council is now politically hung with the Lib-Dems the largest group.

 A full round-up of the results can be found here.