Clacton’s 200 UKIP members have the chance to quiz the party’s committee and councillors at a ‘open’ meeting next Thursday (oct7).

The meeting follows some turmoil within the local party.

Last week, branch secretary Coun Jack Parsons resigned, alleging “bullying” within the branch.

This week, councillor Peter Cawthron, a Tendring UKIP councillor who resigned from the UKIP Group on TDC in January, tweeted, tweeted there had been “all change” in Clacton UKIP. He said Anthony Finnegan-Butler had “quit” as branch Chairman, with Ian Cross taking over and two other committee members resigning.

However, Mr Finnegan-Butler told the Gazette he was still chairman but he has appointed Ian Cross as vice chairman to ease his workload, following a spell in hospital.

Graham and Janet Ford had left the Clacton branch to live in Harwich, where they would still be involved in the party.

Interviews have been taking place for a party secretary to replace Jack Parsons and fill the role until the branch AGM in February.

Clacton UKIP has also selected candidates for next year’s county council elections, but following disagreements with Harwich UKIP over the selection for Tendring Rural East, a candidate for that that particular ward will be chosen later after a joint-hustings between the two branches.

The ‘open’ meeting takes place at 7pm on Thursday October 7 at Wick Lodge, Jaywick Lane.

“It’s an open meeting so members can ask questions, so they can see what we are doing isn’t behind closed doors and in smoke-filled rooms. We will have councillors there, so they can also ask questions about the council,” Mr Finnegan-Butler added.