A COUNCILLOR kicked out of the Kirklees Conservative group after admitting benefit fraud has been re-admitted.

Clr Tony Brice, a Lindley ward member, was expelled from the group in December 2011 after he pleaded guilty to falsely obtaining £2,977 in housing benefit from Kirklees Council.

At the time the Conservatives suspended then expelled him from the council group. They said the expulsion was on a permanent basis.

Clr Brice remained a Kirklees councillor as an Independent.

Now, one year and six months later, he has been re-admitted to the Kirklees Conservative group after making the request.

It comes just days after the Conservatives lost a seat in the by-election to the Labour Party.

That defeat means a reallocation of committee seats by Kirklees Council.

The Conservatives say Clr Brice has shown remorse for the mistake.

Clr Brice told the Examiner he couldn’t comment and referred us to the Conservative Group support manager.

Conservative leader, Clr Robert Light, was in London and did not return calls from the Examiner.

In a statement Clr Light said: “Clr Tony Brice has been re-admitted into the Conservative Group.

“Clr Brice served his sentence and has publicly apologised for the mistakes he made.

“The Conservative Group have considered Clr Brice’s record, his commitment to representing local people in the Lindley Ward and his remorse for the mistakes he made for which he has served the terms of his sentence.

“He has just under two years of his term as a councillor to serve and he will do so as a member of the Conservative Group.”

The Liversedge and Gomersal seat was held by Conservative Margaret Bates, who stepped down on health grounds.

As a result of Labour’s gain the allocation of seats on council committees alters.

Labour gain three more seats, taking their total of committee seats to 56, although they have previously gifted two places.

The Conservatives need to lose two committee seats and the Liberal Democrats lose one.

The Green Party and Valley Independents remain as before.