BLUE is the colour for a Basingstoke and Deane ward councillor who has now joined the growing ranks of the town’s Conservative group.

Old Basing ward councillor, Cllr Onnalee Cubitt has given up her independent status to join the Tories with immediate effect.

Cllr Cubitt was first elected as a Conservative Councillor in 2008 to represent Basing Ward which covers the areas of Basing, Lychpit, Old Basing, Newnham, Up Nately, Nately Scures and Mapledurwell.

However, she decided to part ways with the group in 2012 after a disagreement over the proposed Manydown project and was re-elected as an independent candidate in 2014.

A vote at a meeting of the Conservative Group on Tuesday, May 9, saw Cllr Cubitt receive overwhelming support in rejoining the group, which means the Conservatives now holds 33 out of 60 seats on the borough council.

Leader of the Basingstoke Conservative Group, Cllr Simon Bound said he is glad to welcome Cllr Cubitt back to the party.

He said: “Cllr Cubitt is an extremely talented local councillor and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her delivering better services for both the community of Basing and the borough as a whole.”

Cllr Cubitt said: “I’ve always been a compassionate conservative and a supporter of Theresa May and our wonderful MP Maria Miller.”