In an exclusive interview with Sidmouth Nub News the former chairman of Sidmouth Town Council has blamed Theresa May for Conservative losses in East Devon and nationally in last week's local elections.

Ian McKenzie-Edwards lost his seat at the elections on Thursday, May 2, ending a 57 year relationship with the party.

The former chairman sat as a councillor on Sidmouth Town Council for 27 years after getting into politics at an early age, joining the Young Conservatives in 1962.

The Conservative Party lost a total of 1,330 local council seats at the most recent elections, a fact which 'broke the camel's back' for Mr McKenzie Edwards.

"The Conservative Party is getting some very bad press at the moment and I think that damaged my chances significantly," said the former council chairman.

"This was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I will no longer campaign for them, be a Conservative Party member or work for them any longer. I've been a member of the Conservative Party for the last 57 years."

He blames confusion over Brexit and deep divisions in the country for the loss of his seat, he said: "The situation in Westminster is appalling and disgusting. Brexit has divided this country. Here we have Theresa May, a remainer, in charge of EU negotiations.

"The EU has run rings round us throughout the Brexit negotiations as they saw the British negotiators as being in a weak position."

Ian places the responsibility for the election losses squarely at Theresa May's feet.

"I blame Theresa May for the loss of more than 1,000 good councillors," he said.

"Theresa May is in the unenviable position of running a divided country and I believe it will remain so for the foreseeable future. She reminds me of a civil servant in the way that she conducts herself.

"She didn't come into the post with any spirit or a strong feeling for what she wanted to do.

"Brexit has been going on for three years and this is where we are. Mrs May you have a mandate from the people so get on with it!"

Mr McKenzie-Edwards would like to see the creation of a new political party, 'based on the principles of One Nation Conservatism, retaining our national identity while being open to the world'.

The former council chairman believes this election could be the beginning of a big shift in national politics, he said: "I do have serious fears that if there were a general election soon you could see the Labour Party get in. They may not get an overall majority but you may see them form a coalition with the Scottish National Party.

"My issue with the national Conservative Party is that they did not realise their actions would result in the losses we suffered at the local elections."