Thurrock Council has confirmed that they will not be holding a by-election after all 17 UKIP councillors in Thurrock joined the new party, Thurrock Independents.

On Friday, January 26, a spokesman from the Thurrock Independents Party announced that all the borough's had joined this newly formed party - including Tim Aker (who remains a UKIP MEP) - making them the official opposition party in Thurrock.

Although all these councillors who had originally been voted in as representatives of UKIP are now members of a different party, Thurrock Council confirmed that there will be no need for a by-election.

A spokesman for the Council said: "Thurrock Council was informed last week (Friday 26 January) that 17 members of UKIP have left the party and formed a new party called the Thurrock Independents.

"The Council can confirm that the constitution does not require a by-election when a councillor chooses to change political parties.

"This does not affect political proportionality on any committee but Thurrock Independents are now considered the opposition party.

"Upon the receipt of the change of party in writing, Thurrock Council will reflect it on its website and other places as necessary."

The number of Conservative and Labour seats on Thurrock Council - 18 and 14 respectively - remain the same after this political shake-up.

The Conservatives said the new party had promised to resign and force by-elections in this situation, making reference to their "Real Recall" motion from July 2016.

A spokesman for Thurrock Conservatives said: “This is not a new party, it’s 17 UKIP councillors trying to kid Thurrock residents they are something different in the vain attempt to try and keep their seats in May.

"What happened to their promise to resign and force by elections as they were elected as UKIP councillors and have now apparently abandoned that party?

"TIP is the same people, from the same party, under a slightly different banner.”

Labour leader in Thurrock, Oliver Gerrish, accused to party of being the "same old UKIP group" saying that they had "failed policies and broken promises."

In response to this, new leader of the group and former leader of UKIP, Graham Snell, accused Labour of "fake news".

He said: "In this era of 'Fake News' I believe it is important that when it is found, it needs to be called for what it is.

"Case in point, Labour's Councillor Gerrish has accused my Group of failed policies, broken promises and failing residents.

"My Group have, without ever having run Thurrock Council, ensured weekly bin collections remain, ensured the Thameside Theatre stays open, fought for and achieved more litter bins, fought for and achieved a huge improvement in housing repairs and many other things that would take too long to list here."

A Thurrock Independents party spokesman said about the "Real Recall" motion: "It is ironic that both the Conservatives and Labour are calling for Councillors to resign if they change party.

"Every one of their Councillors was given a chance to support this in 2016 and every one of their Councillors voted against it. It seems both are yet again regretting the decisions they have made."