PEOPLE'S Voice Torfaen is to cease to exist as a political party, after the name was removed from the Electoral Commission register by Blaenau Gwent MP Dai Davies.

Parliamentary candidate Paul Starling confirmed he will not be running for Westminster under the party’s banner.

The name was removed from the Electoral Commission’s register by Blaenau Gwent MP Dai Davies following a request from the party.

The move is the culmination of a long-running rift between supporters of founding member Ian Williams, who claims he is still chairman, and of former vice-chairman Peter Osborne notes Mr Williams resigned in October.

Mr Williams maintains he withdrew his resignation following a request from other party members.

Mr Osborne argues nothing was ever sanctioned officially and therefore Mr Williams could not claim to even be a member.

Writing to Mr Davies, Mr Osborne said: "There has been an irrevocable split in the party in Torfaen. I am, therefore, formally and respectfully requesting that People’s Voice Torfaen is removed, as soon as possible, from the Electoral Commission registration."

Mr Davies, who is responsible for the registration of any variants of the People's Voice name, agreed.

Mr Osborne said he regretted what had happened but felt he was left with no choice.

“The Peoples Voice name was loaned to us in trust, that trust has been broken", he said.

On Monday Mr Williams met his supporters and formed the Torfaen Independent Group.

People's Voice has three members on Torfaen Council - Brian Matthews, Doug Jones, and Tom Gould - who are still to explore their options.

People's Voice Torfaen's parliamentary candidate Paul Starling said: "I will not now be standing at the general election for the collapsed former party of People's Voice Torfaen."