A Kenilworth town councillor and former parliamentary candidate has left the Green Party saying the local group "no longer shares my values".

Cllr Zoe Leventhal will now represent Abbey ward on Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) as an Independent - the only one on the council.

The barrister of 20 years experience had previously been selected at the Green's parliamentary candidate for Kenilworth and Southam before dropping out of the July 2024 general election race due to "family reasons".

In a statement to Nub News after leaving the Green Party she said: "I recently resigned from the Green party after it became apparent that the local party no longer shares my values. 

"As a result, I am now representing Abbey ward as an independent member. 

"I am continuing to work positively and constructively with all my colleagues on the town council to further the interests of Kenilworth and our community."

The Greens remain the majority party on the town council following the May 2023 elections with nine members.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have seven seats.

Cllr Leventhal - who continues to sit on committees and working groups at KTC - holds the remaining seat having been elected for the first time last year.

She will continue to lead the group working with English Heritage and Warwickshire County Council to look for options for a new pedestrian crossing to Kenilworth Castle.

The new Independent councillor will also continue her work with KTC members to improve the safety around the new Kenilworth School.

"I want our community to have better and safer pedestrian and bike access to the school, which will in turn reduce congestion, improve air quality and also have many health benefits," she continued.

"I am also leading the accessibility group looking at disabled access within our town."