THE chairman of Sandbach Town Council has joined the Conservative Party a year after quitting the Lib Dems because he was 'embarrassed' at the behaviour of some members.

Councillor Jack Iddon resigned from the Sandbach Liberal Democrat group last summer but he remain on Sandbach Town Council as an Independent.

This week he confirmed he was now a card carrying Conservative.

It's another bodyblow for the ruling Lib Dems who just two months ago split into two rival groups following months of bitter in-fighting and a disastrous performance in the local elections.

'I no longer feel comfortable or at home in the Liberal Democrat party,' said Mr Iddon, who lost his seat as a Lib Dem on Congleton Borough Council to the Tory, Neville Price, last year.

He said that while he had had enough of the 'shenanigans', 'I know and respect and am still friends with many members of the Liberal Democrat party'.

He added: 'Not everybody is driven by political malice.'

Ken Beresford, president of the Sandbach Conservative Association, said Mr Iddon was now a Tory but whether or not he stood for the borough elections would depend on the decision of the Conservative Association.

The Tories now feel they have their best chance for years at breaking the Lib Dem stronghold on Congleton Borough Council.

'We're optimistic we will gain quite a few seats in May,' said Mr Beresford.

For the Liberal Democrats, Mr Iddon's refusal to return to the fold and instead defect to another party, is yet another setback.

Not only has the party split but former leader Linda Short - now a member of the newly formed Just Liberal Democrats - stood down after a standards committee ruled she was 'not a suitable person' to hold the top post.

This week Congleton Borough Council leader Rod Fletcher (Lib Dem), who took over from Mrs Short, said: 'I'm aware Jack Iddon wants to get back on the borough council and I believe that by joining the Conservatives he think it's the route to get him on.'

He added that if Mr Iddon did stand next May he would do his best to make sure there's a Liberal Democrat victory.