FURIOUS Conservative leader Darius Laws has hit out at the new alliance, labelling it “morally bankrupt”.

The Tory boss said: “I am disappointed in every single member of this morally bankrupt, loser council.

“They lost on Thursday. They were rejected by the people of Colchester and are clinging on by the skin of their teeth to power and to the portfolio and allowances which come with it.

“They are acting in their own interests and not in the interests of the people of Colchester.

"We will take control outright of this borough council because it is us who have the ideas, experience and determination to deliver a better Colchester for everyone. This council has run out of ideas.”

He added: “To all the Conservative voters, I have done everything I can for now.

“We will run the borough council - it will just take a little longer than I’d planned.

"And it is no secret now we will be targeting Highwoods as a priority and we will look to shore up our vote in St Anne’s and St John’s, in Stanway and further afield.”

On having been offered the chairmanship of a newly formed tourism and heritage task and finish group, Mr Laws said it is “a nice offer” but had not yet decided upon taking it up.