An outraged politician who was temporarily kicked out of the Conservative group has branded the district council’s leadership a “shambles” over the way the suspension was handled.

Councillors Barry Harding, Roger Reed and Jacquetta Lowen-Cooper were suspended from the Conservative group that sits on South Bucks District Council in May amid a mystery investigation.

Group officials have remained tight-lipped over the reasons behind the investigation – however Cllr Harding has now revealed what he believes to be the reason behind the suspensions.

In April Cllrs Harding and Jacquetta Lowen-Cooper were the only councillors to object to council plans to spend £20,000 on potentially lodging a legal challenge against creating a unitary authority in Bucks.

Cllr Reed did not vote on the proposals as he had previously walked out of the meeting after raising concerns that councillors were told not to vote if they supported unitary authority plans.

Cllr Harding told the Free Press that the Conservative group was informed of the plans to spend the £20,000 prior to the full council meeting – therefore the politicians “were expected” to vote in favour.

However he added no official minutes were taken during the group meeting.

Cllr Harding has also accused group leader, Nick Naylor, of not following group rules after only consulting with group chairman, Malcom Bradford, regarding the suspensions, rather than all members.

On July 5 group secretary, Matt Bezzant, sent Cllr Harding an email informing him the suspension had been lifted following a members’ vote on June 25.

The email, seen by the Free Press, advised the politician to “acknowledge that all group members are expected to observe group rules and all times.”

However furious Cllr Harding, who says the reasons behind his suspension have never been made clear by the group, responded: “I do not accept the contents of your email.

“I should never have been suspended in the first place, as the senior group officers have acted in contempt of the group rules and chosen to apply as they see fit…

“I do not wish to be associated with a complete shambles of a leadership, hell bent on leading SBDC to hell in a hand cart.

“You would do well to realise you don’t quote rules to me when you don’t abide to them yourselves.”

When contacted by the Free Press Cllr Reed did not wish to publicly comment, while Cllr Lowen-Copper has not responded to requests for a comment.

Cllrs Naylor and Bradford were both contacted for a comment, however neither responded before going to print.

South Bucks District Council said the issue is strictly a group matter so would not be able to provide a statement.