UKIP has elected a new leader for its group on Dudley Council after the acrimonious departure of its former chief.

Wordsley councillor Paul Brothwood has been chosen to take the helm of the group, which is the third largest on the authority with seven councillors.

Cllr Brothwood will succeed Cllr Ken Turner who, along with his wife and fellow councillor Hazel Turner, left the party describing the Dudley Groups as amateurs.

Cllr Brothwood said: “It is disappointing if someone decides to leave a party, I don’t think it needs to come across as a personal attack.”

However the new leader then hit back at the Turners, who defected from the Conservatives to join UKIP after winning elections in their wards.

He said: “We were all elected under a UKIP banner, They were the only ones who were not.”

Cllr Brothwood says he aims to campaign on health issues including ensuring a new urgent care centre in Dudley, which will replace the Holly Hall walk-in centre, is run by the NHS and not a private company.

He said: “UKIP is against the privatisation of the health service , we don’t want any patient to be seen as a profit or loss.”

Cllr Brothwood, a 31-year-old project manager, also says he is aiming to increase the number of UKIP councillors on the authority at next May’s local elections.

He said: “We want as many as the electorate will give us, will it be ten or 20? I have no idea but change is needed in Dudley.”