There may have been no council elections in north Norfolk this week, but there has still been political drama unfolding... with some rare good news for the Conservatives.
Angie Fitch-Tillett - a former leader of the council - has revealed she is rejoining the party seven years after she left it to become an independent.
Ms Fitch-Tillett, who led the council as a Conservative from 2007 to 2011, announced the move with an attack on the ruling Liberal Democrats, saying she had become "totally disillusioned" with their running of the authority.
She said the Lib Dems were "offering no policies or fresh ideas for our residents" while offering support to North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker's re-election bid.
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Ms Fitch-Tillett, who has been a councillor for 21 years, said: "I have re-joined the Conservative group, to support him, totally disillusioned with the Liberal Democrats in North Norfolk who offer no policies or fresh ideas for our residents.
"He is an excellent MP who works tirelessly for our area."
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Mr Baker and Christopher Cushing, Conservative group leader, have said they are "delighted" at the decision.
It means there are now only two Independent councillors left at the authority.
Jeremy Punchard, who remains in the group along with Nigel Housden said: "We are obviously disappointed that she has left the group but we thank her for her sage wisdom and advice and wish her all the best in the future."
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The move comes amid local elections across the country, with the Tories suffering heavy losses elsewhere.
Tim Adams, leader of NNDC, dismissed Ms Fitch-Tillet's claims the council was not delivering for the people of north Norfolk.
"We do not know what ideas the Conservatives have as they have not shared any with us, despite being given the opportunity to do so," he said.
"We are leading the way nationally with our policies on net zero, second homes, supporting the tourism industry and are delivering new leisure centres at a time when many are closing."
NNDC's political makeup is now 25 Liberal Democrats, 13 Conservatives and 2 Independents.
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