A LONG-STANDING Tory councillor has criticised UKIP’s attempts to take a parish council by force, causing the first election in its history.

Alongside the city council election, an election will also be held next month to re-select all nine members of St Peter’s Parish Council, with UKIP fielding as many candidates in the hope of forming a stronghold.

Parish councillors serve four-year terms but if the seats aren’t then contested, they will retain them by default – while any odd vacancies will be filled by co-option.

However, with four councillors stepping aside and 15 candidates – six of which are independents – putting their names forward, St Peter’s will have its first ever election on May 2.

Councillor Roger Knight, who represents St Peter’s ward on the city council and is also a current member of the parish council, said the move is “unexpected and certainly unwelcome”.

“Quite why nine UKIP members would want to take over St Peter’s Parish Council is beyond me as they are not part of the community,” he continued.

“It’s very odd because the same people are standing in Warndon North and South. If they are trying to politicise parish councils, it’s disgraceful. I firmly believe the parish council is about community, not about politics – it’s unsavoury.”

We reported yesterday how all city UKIP candidates had taken up the option to withhold their home addresses from the public over fear of “far-left extremism”.

Cllr Knight said this made it “all a bit cloak and dagger” and he worries that voters won’t realise that none of the UKIP candidates actually live in St Peter’s.

“For someone who has lived here for over 20 years, I find it extremely frustrating, but that’s democracy,” he added.

Chris Roberts, Worcester UKIP general secretary, said: “It’s party policy – it’s the same party policy as the Conservatives and Labour – to have representation in every single seat available.

“We want people to realise that the country is not a two-party country anymore. If new candidates don’t come forward, the same old people are co-opted in by default and will continue to do so for many years.”

He went on to say UKIP councillors across the UK “represent their constituents to the best of their ability”.

He said: “We are not cowed by a party whip. Whatever happens on a national level, there’s no obligation to support it on a local level for us. We work in the best interests of residents.”

He also claimed UKIP are the “last remaining centrist party” in the country.