THE DEPUTY Leader of Brentwood Borough Council says the Conservatives are now "stronger" following the launch of a new political group of breakaway Tories.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the formation of Brentwood First, Cllr Roger Hirst told the Gazette: "We feel much more united that ever before and it's good to have the opposition outside rather than inside.
"I feel that it's good they have declared their colours, they have not been on board with Conservative policies for a long time, and let it be for the residents to decide what they want.
"But I am very pleased to see that they have declared their colours and we feel much more united now than anytime in the past 18 months."
Speaking in the absence of Council Leader Louise McKinlay who is on holiday, Mr Hirst, who represents the residents of Hutton South, also said that the new group should be communicating their ideology with residents now rather than waiting for the next election because they were elected as Conservatives.
Brentwood First is made up of four former Conservatives councillors and will be led by Warley member William Lloyd.
Shenfield ward councillor Phil Baker act as his deputy and Russell Quirk and Nigel Clarke make up the four.
It was also announced at the Town Hall launch yesterday, that 2011/12 Brentwood Mayor Joan Holmes, who lost her Brentwood West seat at the election last May will take up the role of Chairman and veteran councillor Lionel Lee, who stood down from his Shenfield seat last year, will be President.
Brentwood First – not to be confused with the identically named council business initiative launched in 2011 to promote the town's commercial prospects – is pledging, like most councillors, to make the borough better.
The new group's members also announced that their reasons for doing so were because of dissatisfaction with the way the Conservative-controlled council handled major issues such as the future of the Town Hall and the William Hunter Way development.
At the meeting Cllr Lloyd said: "Brentwood First, for me, is a chance to welcome everyone. We are working towards what is better for our town and will make Brentwood better for the future.
"We have a real chance to change the way this borough is going and I believe the community is stronger when we are working together."