THE former leader of the Folkestone-based Shepway Council has been thrown out of the Liberal Democrat party along with 11 of her colleagues.

Cllr Linda Cufley, who is also deputy leader of Kent County Council’s Liberal Democrat group, was expelled from the party this week along with fellow councillors who have broken away from the main Liberal Democrat party to form an independent group.

All 12 councillors had their membership of the party revoked after a disciplinary process was initiated by the local party chiefs.

They were found to have breached rules preventing members from joining another political party.

Cllr Cufley, who has also been told she can no longer be a Liberal Democrat county councillor, said she would be appealing against the decision.

“My membership has been revoked and we are not part of the Liberal Democrat party. But we are appealing to the national party to get that decision overturned. We have not joined a different political party and have never spoken or voted against the official Liberal Democrat group,” she said.

The latest twist in a long-running internal party wrangle threatens to further weaken the Liberal Democrat’s position on Shepway.

Constituency party chairman John Hughes declined to comment in detail on the expulsions.

“All I can say is that what has happened is in accordance with the party’s constitution and we have acted within that. I really cannot say any more.”

Peter Caroll, the Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate, also declined to comment.

However, the Liberal Democrat leader at County Hall, Cllr Trudy Dean, said she regretted having to revoke Cllr Cufley’s membership of the county council group.

“The group acted extremely reluctantly and with great sadness. Linda has been a very loyal servant to us.”

The council is now controlled by the Conservatives, after a budget crisis that culminated in a vote of no confidence in the Lib Dem administration under Cllr Cufley’s leadership.