The only remaining SDP East Riding of Yorkshire councillor, Coun Ray Allerston said he has been given notice to quit his tiny office with a phone at the council's Beverley headquarters to make way for deputy leader of the 47-strong Conservative group Coun Jonathan Owen.

"They are taking my SDP group plate off the door and I have to get out. I think it is pathetic to do something like this to a councillor who has had an office at County Hall for the past nine years.

"I will lose my phone and somewhere to store all my agendas," said Coun Allerston.

Until a year ago, he used to share the office with his wife Christine, who was also an SDP councillor. For the past eight months he has shared it with the Liberal Democrat leader Coun Bob Tress.

"I think they are trying to get rid of me altogether," said Coun Allerston.

Felicity Temple, Conservative group secretary, confirmed Coun Allerston had been asked to vacate his office by the Conservative group officers because the space was needed for members of the council's decision-taking cabinet.

She said Coun Allerston would still have the use of a phone and many councillors, including some committee chairmen, did not even have their own desks.

"We have been generous to Coun Allerston for the past year but we are increasing the size of the cabinet and we need more space.

"Coun Allerston is being treated in exactly the same way as other independent members.

"He cannot be classed as a group as he could when his wife was a councillor and should not expect to have an office," said Mrs Temple.

She said the office was no more than a windowless cubby hole and would be overflow space for accommodation used by cabinet members.

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