SEFTON’S Conservative party appeared in disarray last night, after three councillors were suspended and another defected to UKIP.

Former Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Alf Doran, announced he was leaving the party after labelling its treatment of his fellow councillors “absolutely deplorable”.

It came after a statement from the Southport Conservative Association confirmed that Cllr Sir Ron Watson, Cllr David Pearson and Cllr Tom Glover had been suspended from the party for six months each for their “refusal to accept the authority of the executive council as determined within the party constitution”.

Cllr Doran said: “For the first time in 40 years of supporting the Conservative Party, I feel they have a leader who cannot be trusted.

"I have always been a Euro-sceptic and made no bones about it.

“The Conservative Party has moved away from my point of view – and the vast majority of people.”

Cllr Doran, who is not due for re-election as councillor for the Harrington ward, in Formby, until May next year and will become Sefton’s first UKIP councillor, said of the suspensions: “They are the most hard working and honourable gentlemen I have ever met and they have been battling with issues with the highest integrity.

“The way they have been treated is absolutely deplorable.”

The Daily Post understands that the three suspended Southport councillors were involved in a disagreement over providing cash from allowances for party political purposes.

Cllr Pearson said: “As far as I'm concerned, we have followed the diktat of central office and in our opinion we have done nothing wrong.

“At this time, I would not want to comment further.”