Councillor Grove voted last week to defend our fire service.

By doing this he voted against his party leader. He did what we wish all politicians would do – voted with his residents in the forefront of his thoughts.

He has now been suspended from the Conservatives for six months.

If he does not from now on do as he is told he will be permanently excluded.

What is the point in having so many councillors if they are not allowed to do what we put them there to do – look out for the residents.

This is no democracy, it is a dictatorship.

I feel the residents of Hallow may just as well have voted for a sheep with a blue rosette attached to it.

Well done, Councillor Grove for putting your head above the parapet and illustrating why independent councillors at local council level is the way forward.

A lison Sandilands

Malvern