PEOPLE before politics. Free of the constraints of political parties. Loyalty to ratepayers rather than a political group.

Sound familiar? Yes, these are the sentiments often claimed by the candidates of the Independent Health Concern party.

Then what happens when some are elected? How many have shown their true colours by crossing the floor to join another party, sometimes in mid-term, letting down those who elected them.

The latest to defect was their candidate for the recent Bewdley Town Council by-election who failed to be elected and so joined another party, leaving some of his main supporters to find out about it in the opposition's newsletter.

PAUL GITTINS

Bewdley town councillor

Lyttleton Road

Bewdley