Ukip councillor quits after arrest for theft from father’s shop

The Southern Daily Echo reports:

A Basingstoke councillor who was arrested over allegations of theft has resigned from the UK Independence Party.

As reported previously Matthew Ellery, who is a UKIP councillor for the Brighton Hill South ward on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, was arrested on suspicion of theft from Squirrels Collectors Centre in New Street last month.

The antiques shop is owned by Ellery’s father, Alan Stone, who is the Basingstoke UKIP branch leader and the party’s candidate at the General Election in May…

In an email sent to the party he said: “I will no longer be silenced or oppressed by the local branch.”