A longstanding Cheshire Conservative councillor has quit the party and says he hopes Tory MPs are ‘removed from power’ at a general election.

Cllr Mike Baynham, who represents Winsford Over and Verdin, blasted what he called his former party’s ‘disastrous’ economic policies and criticised MPs who he said had 'lost their way' and wanted to save themselves from 'political annihilation'.

Ms Truss resigned yesterday following just over six weeks at the helm, during which her aborted 'mini budget' led to mayhem on the markets, and she also lost her Chancellor and Home Secretary during a chaotic tenure.

A lifelong Conservative, Cllr Baynham has represented the ward since 2015 and said quitting the party had been a 'very difficult' decision.

He said: "It has been my privilege to work with those Conservative councillors who work so very hard to obtain value for money for our residents.

“However, the events of the last few weeks did not sit well with me, as they have not with many residents I have spoken with.

“The Conservative MPs who are currently focused on their own situation rather than the country or indeed the people who elected them there have lost their way, and need removal from power as soon as practical via a general election.”

He said the ‘disastrous’ economic policy of Liz Truss had left residents uncertain of what the future holds and ‘accelerated’ bill and price rises, adding: “I could not defend those policies or price rises to any resident of Winsford.”

He also hit out at Tory MPs who he said had ‘blamed members’ for the selection of Liz Truss, even though he said it was the parliamentary party who had put ‘two of the poorest candidates’ forward for the final vote. He said that this, coupled with the changing of rules for selection to save MPs from ‘political anhiliation’ had been the ‘last straw’.

He said he would not be standing down but would remain as an independent councillor, with local elections due to be held in May.

He said: “The residents do not need a costly by-election right now, which will be reflected in higher costs to them in their council tax bills next year. They can decide in May who represents them during the next four years.”

Cheshire West Conservative group leader, Cllr Margaret Parker, said: "Cllr Mike Baynham has been a valued member of the Conservative Group and I was sorry to receive notice of his resignation; he will be missed by us all. "There is naturally uncertainty in the whole country just now.

"Next week we will have a new Prime Minister who will concentrate on the big national challenges before us.

"Locally our focus remains on offering a positive vision for the future of Cheshire West and Chester Council as we approach the local elections next May.”