TWO Newport councillors joined the Conservative party at the authority's meeting yesterday.
Independent councillor for Llanwern Carole Atwell sat among the Tories at the start of proceedings and stood up almost immediately to announce her decision to join them.
She said that the decision to grant permission to build 1,100 houses in Llanwern made her consider her position in the chamber.
Because of Labour's dominance on public bodies and committees, she said she was unable to represent the residents as their elected member on the Llanwern village planning application, and requests to join other bodies have also been denied.
Pill Labour member Laura Buchanan-Smith had notified party officials of her decision to leave and join the Tories on Monday night.
Leader of the Conservative group on Newport City Council Matthew Evans and members of his party broke out in cheers as Councillor Buchanan-Smith was presented with a bunch of flowers.
She later said that she would give the flowers to a local hospice.
After the moves, the council is now made up of: Labour: 30 members; Conservative: 12 members; Lib Dems: six members; Plaid Cymru: one member
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