The Powys Independents group has gained a new member, making it the largest opposition group on Powys County Council.

It has been revealed that Cllr Tom Colbert (Bronllys and Felinfach), a former Liberal Democrat, has joined the Powys Independents ranks.

The move means the group now has 14 councillors, overtaking the Conservatives as the largest opposition group in Powys.

Powys Independents group chairman Cllr Graham Breeze (Welshpool Llanerchyddol) said: “I am really pleased to welcome Cllr Colbert and look forward to working alongside him in the future.”

This is the third move by Cllr Colbert this year.

Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat in May 2022, Cllr Colbert spent three years as a non-aligned councillor before re-joining the party earlier this year and supporting them during the council’s budget vote in February.

Following the council’s annual meeting in May, it emerged that Cllr Colbert had again left the Liberal Democrats to sit as a non-aligned councillor.

Earlier this month, three council by-elections took place across Powys to replace councillors who had been elected to the Senedd in Cardiff in the recent election.

Plaid Cymru held the Glantwymyn ward, while Reform UK successfully defended the Llanyre with Nantmel ward.

The Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward was won by the Liberal Democrats, which had previously been held by Reform UK.

With less than a year to go before the next local elections in May 2027, the minority Liberal Democrat and Labour administration now has 32 councillors.

The current political make-up of Powys County Council is 23 Liberal Democrat councillors, nine Labour councillors, 14 Powys Independents councillors, 13 Conservative councillors, four Plaid Cymru councillors, three Reform UK councillors, one Green Party councillor (officially listed as non-aligned) and one non-aligned councillor.

The council has 68 members in total.