All three of Plymouth's UKIP councillors quit the party

All three UKIP Councillors on Plymouth City Council have quit the party to become Conservatives.

They've been running the Council in coalition with the Tories since 2016. Their decision now puts the Tories in overall control.

The leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Ian Bowyer says the decision by Councillors John Riley, Maddi Bridgeman, and Chris Storer to join the Conservative Party says it makes them 'all part of the blue team'.

Cabinet Member John Riley is one of the three who has made the switch.

Councillors John Riley, Maddi Bridgeman, and Chris Storer all won their seats on Plymouth City Council in the 2014 local elections. All three wards had previously been held by Labour. The party is now calling on the trio to resign, forcing a set of by-elections.

The changes put the Conservatives in overall control of Plymouth City Council. Credit: ITV West Country