Mystery surrounds a councillor who stepped down from his party sparking rumours of a political fallout.

Tim Dennen has resigned from the Liberal Democrats but will remain an independent in Canbury ward, North Kingston, where he won 2,469 votes at the last election – the most of any candidate.

The Liberal Democrats blamed “personal circumstances”, but despite repeated attempts to contact Coun Dennen he is yet to speak publicly on the split.

On his resignation, council leader Derek Osbourne described Coun Dennen as an “extremely loyal member”.

However, Coun Dennen previously opposed plans for “eyesore” advert boards in the town centre, accusing the council of plunging to new depths to pocket revenue.

Kingston Council does not log councillor voting records but it is said that Coun Dennen opposed Lib Dems “several times” at neighbourhood meetings.

Lib Dem leader Councillor Derek Osbourne rubbished claims of a split claiming Mr Dennen had left because of “personal circumstances”.

He said: “Tim has been an extremely loyal member of the Liberal Democrat Group and I know I speak for my entire group when we wish him well for the future. “Tim is an excellent ward councillor who works closely with residents to ensure he is able to put forward their views and ideas and I know he will continue to work very hard on their behalf.”

It is thought Coun Dennen, who had been unemployed, has now found work counselling young people who have been in prison.

Conservative Andrea Craig, a fellow Canbury ward councillor, has worked alongside Coun Dennen at Kingston neighbourhood committees.

He has attended just over a third of council meetings in the past year, including four at the full council, a trend the she thinks points to a fall out.

She said: “The amount of meetings Tim has missed, looking at it logically; it would certainly appear there has been a fall out between Tim and the party.

“The fact that he has missed four full council meetings, I believe, points to a difference in opinion on certain issues.”

Meanwhile nominations have opened for the Coombe Hill byelection following the resignation of the borough’s longest serving councillor.

Councillor David Edwards stepped down to undergo chemotherapy in a bid to battle cancer after holding the position as ward councillor for Coombe Hill since 1989.

A new councillor will be elected to join the ward’s two Conservative councillors Patrick Codd and Eric Humphrey at the byelection on Thursday, May 3.

The count will be done on Friday, May 4, at Olympia because of it coinciding with the Mayor of London elections.

Electors living in the ward will receive two poll cards – one for the elections for the Mayor of London and London Assembly and one for the Coombe Hill byelection.

Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate must complete a nomination paper and deliver it to the returning officer by Wednesday, April 4. For information about standing as a candidate call the electoral services manager on 020 8547 5035.

The deadline for registering to vote at the byelection is Wednesday, April 18, and the postal vote deadline is at 5pm on the same day.

The deadline for applying for a proxy vote is at 5pm on Wednesday, April 25.

For more information visit tinyurl.com/c2k3qjo.