THIRSK & Malton Conservative Association has said it "regrets" the resignation of six of its members.

A spokesperson said: “The Association very much regrets that some members of the Conservative group feel no longer able to be part of it and their resignations from the Conservative Party have been accepted. The reasons for the suspensions were to do with the members’ non-attendance and non-compliance regarding standard Conservative Party disciplinary processes in connection with voting irregularities.”

The Conservative Party is to lose its majority on Ryedale District Council (RDC) following the defection of six members to the Independent group.

Six councillors, with a collective total of 96 years’ council service and experience, are “crossing the floor” to join the Independents, led by Cllr Robert Wainwright.

The decision has been taken following the suspension of Cllrs David Cussons and John Raper, along with RDC leader Linda Cowling, from the Thirsk and Malton Conservative Association.

Cllr Cussons said: “As a long-standing councillor of 22 years on RDC and lifelong Conservative Party member, I have not taken the decision lightly to become Independent, but I feel let down by the association, who have not given me any reason for my suspension and have created irreconcilable differences between some members and themselves for a long time now.

“My colleagues feel the same and I have been overwhelmed by messages of support from council members across the groups and my constituents.

“My family and I had a wonderful time in London when I went to receive my MBE – so it was very distressing to come home to find a special delivery letter waiting for me.

“The letter was from the association officers and said that I was suspended from the Conservative Association pending expulsion and was no longer allowed to attend group meetings, or take part in campaigning activities and social events.”

Cllr John Windress, who is chairman of RDC planning committee, and four former chairmen of the council, Cllr Janet Frank, Cllr Eric Hope, Cllr John Raper and Cllr ­David Cussons have also resigned from the Conservative Party.

Cllr Frank said: “We have reached this decision individually over time for numerous reasons.

“The final decision by so many councillors to leave at once, triggered by the suspension of Cllr Cussons and then Cllr Cowling, and the refusal of the association to give a reason for these unexpected suspensions has been the final straw in a total breakdown of communication between the group and the association officers. I look forward to being an Independent and continuing to represent the Dales ward.”

All six councillors will become members of the Independent group at RDC with immediate effect and all submitted their resignations to the Conservative Association last night.

Cllr Cowling said: “Members are democratically elected to represent our constituents and must be able to do that without outside influence. I would like to reassure all the wards affected that we will continue to represent their best interests on the council.

“As a group, we were determined not to create extra work for council officers – there will be no need to organise an extraordinary meeting of the council.

“Although we were ready to leave as soon as Cllr Cussons was suspended, without explanation, by the association, we have waited until now to make this decision public in order to save unnecessary disruption to the council.

“I am deeply saddened by this split from the Conservative Party – I have been a Conservative councillor for 26 years – but the Conservative Group simply cannot function effectively without the full support of the association and I hope that this move will result in more effective representation for Ryedale residents.”

A spokesman for Thirsk & Malton Conservative Association said: “Councillors Linda Cowling, David Cussons and John Raper are currently suspended from the Conservative Party.”