Two former Tory councillors appear to have quit the party in South Gloucestershire, but neither they nor the party are saying why.
Parkwall representatives Nick and Kaye Barrett are among 13 Conservative councillors whose intentions to step down from the council were announced in February.
But the husband and wife team are the only sitting Tory members who have had their association with the party removed from the council’s website.
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And, while Mrs Barrett is not seeking re-election in May’s local elections, Mr Barrett is standing as an independent candidate in the new ward of Parkwall and Warmley.
He has represented Parkwall for the past eight years, and his wife for the past four.
When asked why the Barretts are no longer listed as Conservative councillors on the council’s website, a spokesman for the South Gloucestershire Conservative Group said it was a question best answered by the couple themselves.
Neither husband nor wife responded to numerous voicemail messages, texts or emails.
The spokesman for the Conservative group said the Barretts gave no reason for their departure and another married couple are standing in their stead.
“Our group would like to thank both Nick and Kaye Barrett for their service as Conservative Councillors for the Parkwall ward,” the spokesman said.
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“Following boundary changes and going forward in these local elections, we are pleased we are able to put forward two very experienced local campaigners, Cllr Sam Bromiley and Elizabeth Bromiley to stand for the newly formed ward of Parkwall and Warmley.”
The Bromileys have not responded to requests for interviews. Mr Bromiley is the sitting councillor for Oldland Common.
Mr Barrett was first elected to South Gloucestershire Council in 2011 and Mrs Barrett followed suit in 2015.
