A former Conservative Senedd member has said he will stand for the Lib Dems in May's council elections.
Nick Ramsay represented Monmouth from 2007 to 2021 but spectacularly fell out with his local party in Monmouth.
Mr Ramsay, 44, was suspended from the group after being arrested at his home in Raglan, Monmouthshire, at around 8pm on New Year's Day, 2020.
He was released from custody the following afternoon, with Gwent Police stating that he would face no further action, but his suspension remained. Mr Ramsay then sued Paul Davies - the leader of the Welsh Conservatives - at the High Court.
On February 13, Mr Ramsay confirmed that he had been reinstated to the Welsh Conservative Party Group in the Senedd and had dropped his legal challenge against the decision by group leader Paul Davies to suspend him.
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies, was ordered by a High Court judge to lift his suspension from the Assembly group pending further legal action.
He was reinstated to the Conservative party in July 2020.
Members of Monmouth Conservative Association (MCA) voted to deselect him in December 2020 and chose Monmouthshire County Council leader Peter Fox to replace him as their candidate.
Two judges Mr Ramsay to pay a total of more than £40,000 to the association for legal costs incurred after he said he would challenge the deselection at the High Court. He dropped the case after being told he had no prospect of winning the case.
Mr Ramsay stood as an independent in the Senedd election but the Conservative candidate, Mr Fox, was elected. He got 1,293 votes compared to Mr Fox's 15,332.
By losing at the election, he was in line for a payoff and received a total of £37,259.75.
He was also involved in an incident where MSs were found drinking alcohol in the Senedd during lockdown.
Announcing his switch to the Lib Dems, he said: "I have thought long and hard about the future of politics in Wales and the UK. The Conservative Party is not the party I once joined. They have lost the trust of the people, and are unable to manage our country. They have failed the fundamental test of competence. I can think of little of them with which I agree.
"I have spent a long time examining the Liberal Democrats, and I find their underpinning values of fairness, community, and internationalism match my own. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are the best way to achieve a new village hall for Raglan, support for struggling local businesses and sustainable development for Monmouthshire, and I am pleased to be able to join them in their campaign to provide a better future for our county."
A press release from the Lib Dems said their leader in Monmouthshire "congratulated Nick on taking such a principled decision".
"I am delighted to welcome Nick on board. He brings experience of working for a better Monmouthshire at both a national and local level. He shares our values and he will be an excellent addition to our strong team as we take on the challenge of building a greener future, supporting our local businesses and creating sustainable communities here in Monmouthshire," said Cllr Jo Watkins
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Jane Dodds MS, added: "Nick’s journey reflects that of many life-long compassionate Conservative voters across Wales are fed up with the mindless populism represented by Boris Johnson and are turning to the Liberal Democrats for serious policies and for plans that will help tackle the problems in their lives. From spiralling energy costs, to unfair tax hikes the Conservative Party has utterly lost sight of what matters to everyday people."
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