Red, yellow and now blue, but Fraser’s not blushing

But Fraser Pithie, who is standing as the Tory candidate for the role in November elections, said his political past was no secret.

He was reacting to a story on left-wing website Political Scrapbook last week, which outlined how Mr Pithie had been an activist for all three main political parties, adding: “Pithie’s personal journey seems to be away from principle and towards his best shot at power.”

Speaking to the Courier, Mr Pithie said he had been a member of the Labour Party - although not an activist - in the late 1980s until he realised it was not for him. In 1990 he was asked by the Liberal Democrats to stand as a councillor in Bidford following the death of one of their councillors, but says he resigned the party whip in 1993 and told electors to vote Conservative when he stood down in 1997.

Mr Pithie said he had first become involved in community affairs in 1984 - before he joined any political party - to campaign to save the Stratford to Birmingham railway line, and had later stood for Welford-on-Avon parish council where he helped build new bungalows and affordable housing.

Mr Pithie denied he was an opportunist, explaining that when he said he was not a ‘professional’ politician, he meant he was not a career politician who had never held a job outside politics.

He said: “Do they think it’s something to be ashamed of, being a member of the Labour Party?

“The Conservative Party are well aware of my background. With age comes experience. We all do things in our 20s we learn about later on.”

He added: “My natural beliefs are Conservative. I’m putting myself forward because I’m local.

“I have business experience and policing knowledge and I’m not a career politician, that’s what seems to have wound them up.

“Most people judge people not by their label but by what they are and what they actually do.”