TWO veteran Selby Conservative politicians are to be kicked out of the party after choosing to stand as Independent candidates in next month’s local elections.

Brian Percival, who currently represents the Conservatives in Appleton Roebuck on Selby District Council, will contest the seat against the official Tory runner, Richard Musgrave, on May 5.

The Selby and Ainsty Conservative Party said his decision meant he was in breach of its rules and his membership of the party has been suspended with immediate effect, along with that of David McSherry, a Tory Party member who will also stand as an independent in Hemingbrough.

Mr McSherry stood down as a Conservative councillor in the same ward in 2007.

A statement from the party said Coun Percival and Mr McSherry had been informed of the move, and said: “Once the election is over, formal expulsion procedures will be commenced.

“This is an automatic procedure under Conservative Party rules when a member stands against the party candidate.”

Last week, Coun Percival, one of the district’s best-known councillors, launched a scathing attack on the Tories after being left off their nomination list for the elections, leading to him announcing he would stand as an independent.

In a statement released to The Press, Coun Percival said his decision to stand as an Independent was due to “a clash” with the Conservative Association, and said the party’s decision not to select him to stand left him feeling as if his “commitment to the party for the previous 46 years counted for nothing”.

Coun Percival and Mr McSherry were unavailable for comment.