James Bensly, who represents the East Flegg ward on Great Yarmouth Borough Council, has joined Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party and its sister group, Great Yarmouth First.

The Hemsby councillor, who also runs the village's Beach Café, is the first serving Tory borough councillor to defect to the party, which was formed by the Great Yarmouth MP, Mr Lowe.

Daniel Candon, a Conservative borough councillor who is likely to be the party's Great Yarmouth candidate at the next general election, criticised the move.

Councillor James Bensly, member of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, has defected from the Conservatives to Great Yarmouth First and Restore Britain (Image: Supplied)

"It is apparent to me that Rupert Lowe has offered Cllr James Bensly the opportunity to become an MP for Lowestoft and the position as mayor next year at GYBC," he said.

"In my view, his decision to defect to Restore Britain puts personal ambition ahead of principle.

"Public service should be about the........

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