A councillor has sparked anger after joining County Hall's Liberal Democrat group as an aligned member - just days after winning a by-election as an independent.
Simon Ring won the Norfolk County Council Freebridge Lynn by-election last week after the Lib Dems declined to stand against him.
Following his victory, on Friday, he said: "This sends a message that there is an alternative to party politics and that voting independent gives people a representative who is free to fight for what is best for residents."
But on Monday, it was announced he would be aligned with the Lib Dems at County Hall to form the newly-named Liberal Democrat Alliance group.
With 11 members, that group is the official opposition at the Conservative-controlled county council.
Steve Morphew, leader of the council's 10-strong Labour group, said: "So much for voters being given an honest choice when the so-called independent virtually signs up to become a Lib Dem within three days of being elected."
But Mr Ring, also deputy leader of West Norfolk Council, shrugged off the criticism and said he was still an independent.
He said his predecessor John Crofts, the Lib Dem councillor whose death triggered the by-election, would have wanted him to sit with his former party colleagues.
He said: "My decision to align with the Lib Dems is simple. I am doing this for John, it is what he would have wanted.
"If this has upset Labour or the Independent group, as I suspect it has, then I honestly don't care.
"If it means the Lib Dem Alliance is the opposition group and that upsets them, then I think they need something more important to be upset about.
"This was the only way I could feel I was honouring the memory of an amazing man.
"I will still be an independent and will vote as I wish to vote. The Lib Dems know full well I will do that."
Mr Ring took 723 votes, ahead of second-placed Conservative Jason Law (454) and Labour's Wilf Lambert (167).
The Lib Dems did not put forward a candidate, but supported Mr Ring.
The council's political make-up is now Conservatives (54), Liberal Democrat Alliance (11), Labour (10), Greens (four), Non-aligned independent (three) and Independents (two).
All 84 divisions will be up for election next May.
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