A FORMER Winchester city councillor has resigned from the Conservative Party over Boris Johnson's leadership.

Rose Burns, represented St Bartholomews ward covering the Hyde area from 2015-19, until the May election when she lost to the Liberal Democrats.

In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister sent on Tuesday, Mrs Burns wrote: "My dismay at the direction taken by the Party in the last three years has increased to the point that I cannot continue my support.

"The One Nation conservatism originating with Disraeli, and espoused latterly by Cameron, has been lost in the drive to make Brexit transcendent above economic and practical realism. The Conservative Party is no longer recognisable as the responsible and tolerant party of which I have been a fervent supporter for over 50 years.

"The suspension of the whip from Lord Heseltine, and from 21 respected Conservative members of Parliament (including Steve Brine), because they voted against your government in order to protect the national interest was unconscionable. Just because you and your extreme Brexit colleagues choose to play a game of bluff and double bluff with the EU, you discard eminent parliamentarians as though they were wholly dispensable because they take an alternative view."

"The tipping point for me came last Wednesday during your speech at the despatch box. I despaired when you derided the rational views of MPs that your incendiary words might provoke an increase in unwarranted death threats, describing them as ‘humbug’. In criminal courts we frequently encounter the disastrous outcomes of domestic and other forms of abuse: this is no joking matter. Disrespecting your colleagues in the House by calling them a ‘zombie Parliament’ and a ‘zombie Opposition’ was extraordinary. And all because your irrational desire to exit the EU is paramount, and you seek to turn our democracy into a populist dictatorship."

It was unclear if Ms Burns, a barrister, will be joining another party.