A Halesowen Conservative councillor has blasted party colleagues after being dramatically denied a Cabinet position.

Councillor Ken Turner was expected to be appointed as Cabinet member for the Environment at Dudley Council's annual meeting on Thursday May 18 but, in a surprise twist, councillor Jeffrey Hill put forward an amendment for current incumbent Karen Shakespeare to remain in the post.

A vote then took place with 40 councillors supporting the new proposal, 21 opposing and seven abstentions.

Cllr Turner said he was disappointed with the standards some members of his party had been reduced to.

He said: "Some Conservative members joined together with the Labour group to oust me.

"In some instances it was a personal vendetta but a democratic decision was made.

"The motto of Dudley is unite and prosper, and I would suggest some of our members remember this, divided we will fall."

Cllr Turner indicated his intention to scale down his work with environmental group Groundwork Black Country and said he would now focus even more on the needs of residents in his own Hayley Green and Cradley South ward.

Cllr Turner said: "I was re-elected earlier this month with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

"It is an excellent opportunity of demonstrating how much the people in my ward come first."

Explaining the reasons for his actions Halesowen North councillor Jeffrey Hill said: "Karen did a great job last year.

"I decided to put forward the amendment and I was very pleased it was supported by people on both sides of the chamber.

"We're all here to work for the borough first and foremost."

Fellow Halesowen North councillor Karen Shakespeare said: "This is just politics.

"I'm delighted and quite happy doing the cabinet role and carry on serving people of the borough.

"I hope I'm doing a good job and to get this support like this is a good feeling."