A FORMER Labour councillor has defected to the Conservative group amid rumours that there could be more changes to come on Swindon Council.

Dorcan councillor David Wren officially signed the papers yesterday to join the Tory group.

Coun Wren has been one of four Labour councillors to resign under Coun Kevin Small's leadership of the group.

The others are Coun Andy Harrison (Penhill) late last year, Coun Sinead Darker (Central), and former councillor John Taylor, who used to represent the Central ward.

Coun Darker yesterday confirmed that she is seriously considering joining the Tories, but has not made up her mind yet, and there is conjecture that Coun Geraldine Frost, currently an independent, could follow suit.

Coun Wren, as a new member of the Conservative group, will also play a key part in the North Swindon Conservative campaign team.

He quit the Labour group eight months ago and has been sitting as an independent since then.

He said: "The Tories have proved that they are committed to improving the facilities and services to the people of Swindon while keeping to a tightly managed budget.

"The turnaround in the town's fortunes under the Conservative administration is impressive and I fully support their innovative plans for the town's regeneration and growth. The Labour group has been floundering since it lost power and have lost its way.

"As a local councillor, my priorities are the people first and the Tories have shown that they are working in the best interests of the town."

But Coun Small (Western) believes that Coun Wren has only joined the Tory group so that he can be assured of re-election in three months' time.

He said: "As an independent he would stand no chance. Since he left the Labour group he has been an irrelevance to us."

Coun Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) has recently been fast-tracked to contest the North Swindon seat at the next General Election.

He said: "Having worked with David since 2002, I have seen first-hand how hard-working and well-respected he is.

"David will be an excellent addition to the North Swindon campaign team where we focus on local action, helping us to build on the phenomenal gains of the 2003 and 2004 local elections."

Last month the Prime Minister praised Swindon Council in the House of Commons after it received two stars in a Government inspection. It received no stars a couple of years earlier.

Council leader Mike Bawden said the defection to the Tories was another boost for the council, and said: "We are delighted that David Wren will be joining us.

"We have worked extremely hard to turn Swindon Council around, and I welcome David's positive remarks.

"It is clear the Conservatives are making a real difference in Swindon. I very much look forward to David playing a key part in the continuing improvements in Swindon Council."

Mixed reaction

FOR most of the people of Dorcan, David Wren's political allegiances are not a major issue as long as he carries on doing a good job for the ward.

His defection means there are now 34 Tory councillors, three independents, five Liberal Democrats, and 17 Labour councillors.

One Dorcan resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "For the average person on the street, it doesn't matter what political party the councillor is, as long as they do a good job in the community and look after our interests.

"Personally, I vote Conservative, but if there was a really good Labour councillor in this ward who did a lot for us, I would probably vote for him or her. At a local level it doesn't matter what political flag you fly under, as long as you have the interests of the constituents at heart."

But one resident felt that it showed that Coun Wren was not a man of principle, as he was misleading the people who had voted for him in good faith as a Labour councillor.

She said: "He's a bit of a turncoat, isn't he? I didn't vote for him, but I would feel really peeved now if I had and then he turned around and changed to a different party with a totally different set of policies."

Another resident felt that it was a good move for the Dorcan councillor.

He said: "The Tories have been doing a really good job at turning things around, whilst the Labour group just pick holes and have no real policies."

of their own. It's definitely the best move for him."

"It just sums up how strongly politicians stick to their ideals."