A SENIOR politician has tonight quit his post on Isle of Wight Council.

Councillor Charles Chapman has stood down from the Island Independent councillors group who form the island’s administration.

He is the fourth member to leave the party in the last few days, following Cllr’s Bob Blezzard, Richard Priest and Jonathan Gilbey.

In a resignation letter sent to all chamber members, Cllr Chapman, who represents Ryde South, said: “I have been a loyal and committed member of the Island Independent Group, but have become increasingly disillusioned that several prominent members of the Group appear to have abandoned the principles of openness, transparency and honesty upon which we were elected and that they have instead put personal pride and ambition ahead of the interests of the island.

“The decision to dispense with Cllrs Richard Priest and Jonathan Gilbey, and subsequently to traduce their reputations in the Island media, were the final straw. The lack of trust, the in-fighting and the personal ambition are damaging the Island and preventing the effective running of the Council. Enough is enough, I have to do what is right and leave the Island Independent Group.”

Cllr Chris Whitehouse, Secretary of the island’s Conservative Group saluted Cllr Chapman as a politician of “courage, honesty and integrity”.