Former mayor Councillor Andy Morgan-Watts has been dubbed “Andy Move on-Watts” after defecting to the Conservatives - his third party in three months.

The Hanworth councillor said a decision by Councillor Peter Hills, leader of the West Area Independent Group, to remove him from the scrutiny panel without consulting him first had left him “absolutely devastated”.

He admitted his move from the Liberal Democrats to the Independent Group in March had been a “mistake” which led to a rift within the party, adding: “I’m happy to say that I didn’t really think the whole thing through.”

He claimed at the time that he could achieve more outside mainstream party politics.

Coun Hills said he felt a “sense of relief” that Coun Morgan-Watts was leaving his party because he had a propensity to make “inappropriate comments”.

Coun Morgan-Watts hit back, saying: “I don’t know what the hell he is talking about. I think he is sometimes embarrassed by me, still I’m not sure inappropriate is the right word.

“At 60 I’m still a cheeky little boy, but that’s me, that’s how I am.

“With some councillors there’s a deep friendship, it might be jealousy that I’m able to have a rapport with people and he is not.

“It’s a shame really because we are supposed to be getting on with looking after Hounslow, not fighting against ourselves.”

He insisted he was not motivated by political aspiration, but added: “When I was mayor, without being too big headed, I think I made a difference in that particular role. It was that I wanted to continue with rather than what I’ve been doing in the last few weeks which is sitting on the back benches.

“It was obvious I had to do something because things were not right as they were, I wanted to be in a position where I could make a difference.”

Coun Hills said: “I am sure many people will agree that this shows an extraordinary level of indecisiveness.

“We believe that his only allegiance is to Andrew Morgan-Watts.”