WYRE Forest Conservatives have issued a statement amid reports the district council’s chairman is set to be expelled from the party.

It has been claimed a vote was taken last Friday by an executive committee of Wyre Forest Conservative Association to expel Stephen Clee , who represents Bewdley and Arley on the authority and is the council chairman.

It is understood Mr Clee has 14 days in which to appeal against the decision.

Despite repeated attempts by The Shuttle since last Friday to speak to Mr Clee about the matter he has not returned the newspaper’s calls.

The local party’s statement on the affair said: “This is an internal party matter. The Conservative Party has rigorous internal procedures for all our members including a right of appeal. It would be inappropriate for Wyre Forest Conservative Association to comment until all those procedures are concluded.”

The Labour Group Leader on the district council, Jamie Shaw, said: “We note the announcement of councillor Clee’s expulsion. This is purely an internal matter for the Conservative Party and we do not have any other comment to make at this time.”

Mr Clee is also a Worcestershire county councillor, representing Chaddesley.