Absolutely disgraceful behaviour, should be kicked out of the chambers. If he had switched parties before the elections, then this would be reasonable behaviour.
Enjoy the gravy train - idiot

cant expect a councillor to do the honourable thing and resign.
he wants his money he made under false representations.
is there no council rules for falsehood.
should be sacked.

I can't believe that someone would be so underhand as to campaign under one 'brand' and immediately change it! The guy is totally untrustworthy and the Tories are welcome to him! The only shame is that there does not appear to be any redress for such behaviour and the electorate have to wait so long to make their views known too. It just give all those hardworking and committed councillors a bad name.

I don't recall the Lib Dems refusing to accept Nick Yates when he did the same thing, but in the opposite direction. See this for more facts:
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Councillor-switches-party-just-a.4070548.jp

Lab/Lib/Con are all the same.Kleptocrats one and all.

Given that most people vote for the party, rather than the candidate, i would say that the Lib Dems have a good argument for the seat being theirs, rather than cllr Watson's.

I've said enough on this subject, and I'm getting bored now with Watson, the recently booted and not missed Yates, and still there (But not for long) Rogan.

Fact is, he has made this switch. Fact is it's not going to really affect the council makeup as no party has overall control. Fact is, they are "employed" to spend OUR money. He's not going to resign, the council might as well just get over it and keep working. It's to be hoped they don't all start behaving like kids and catcalling due to this when they should be knuckling down (Though my experience of that council suggests otherwise)

Last fact is that neither party has come up smelling of roses over this. The Tories have lost the moral high ground by accepting him, and the Libdems, well they are frankly hypocrites. No use crying when the dirty is done on you, as they were only too keen to accept others.
Maybe all parties can write into a potential councillors contract that they will resign if they decide to leave their party.
Till this happens - they all need to get over themselves. I'm sick of the lot of them

as a conservative party member at Greatland this is my worst nightmare, Keith Watson is the only member of Calderdale that I cant stand, I find him unbearable, usually I defend the rights of members to walk the floor but come on after one week? of course he must resign hes conned the voters.

I arnt suprised hes defected but very suprised the conservatives want him lets see if hes in the cabinet if he is the governing party of calderdale should resighn.

I am disgusted and appalled, Id love the conservatives to win Greetland fair and square, of course with a decent candidate.

i'm amazed that this is allowed to happen. as piratepete so accurately points out - most voters choose their party - then if the face ain't too bad they go ahead and put the cross in the box.
I'm astounded that he can then just change....

In law we in these parts vote for the candidate not the party, in fairness to the Librals they have only put up 2 dix 1n the last 35 years, and Watson is one of them.

I have spoken to branch officers about this defection, and Watson is not a card carrying conservative member I can assure readers the application may not be automatic.

he will find party meetings a lot different than Liberal ones but he will also find he will not hve an automatic fan club.

a lot of people in Greetland felt some things Watson said were personal attacks I am one of those people.

Keith please resign from the council and restand for election and dont take support from conservatives for granted