Wycombe’s only elected Ukip councillor says he does not expect to be on Nigel Farage’s Christmas card list this year after revealing plans to leave the party.

Brian Pearce was first elected to Wycombe District Council as a Ukip politician five years ago, but has now told the Bucks Free Press he has “had enough” and will instead sit as an independent.

The Booker and Cressex ward councillor also revealed that he turned down attempts from the Conservatives to join the leading group.

The former carpenter said he took the decision after the “disadvantages began to outweigh the benefits”, adding that he felt he received a lack of help during the build up to last year’s election.

Cllr Pearce said: “I still like what the party stands for and I very much still admire Nigel Farage – although I don’t think I will be getting any more Christmas cards from him.

“I’ve left Ukip for personal reasons and I am now an independent councillor.

“I took the decision a couple of weeks ago as the disadvantages of being a Ukip councillor became too much.

“I have been thinking about it for a long time after I had minimal help at the election [last May]. It became a hindrance and for various reasons I decided to leave.”

Bucks Free Press:

Cllr Brian Pearce.

In 2011, the 68-year-old said he was “over the moon” to win a WDC seat for Ukip – the first in the party’s history – and even received a congratulatory call from leader, Nigel Farage.

It was a hard fought victory for Cllr Pearce, who four years earlier missed out after a tied vote saw him lose to a Tory rival when names had to be picked from a hat.

Leaving the party to become WDC’s fourth independent councillor, he admitted ignoring some calls to join the Conservative’s who have a majority with 49 councillors.

Cllr Pearce said: “If I had a pound for every time a Conservative asked me to join them, I think I would have saved enough for a second hand car by now.”

He added: “My aims are still the same and my priority is to serve the ward of Booker and Cressex.

“If anyone has any concerns or questions about my decision then I am happy to speak to them.”

It is the second time in less than a month that a WDC councillor has swapped their allegiances, with Risborough councillors Alan Turner and Gary Hall both joining the Tories having been independents.