A Conservative councillor for the Queen’s local council in the Prime Minister’s constituency, has spoken about the ‘heartbreak’ he feels for being deselected by the party after 13 years of service.

News that veteran councillor and former mayor Colin Rayner had been deselected by his Conservative party colleagues had sent shock waves through the Royal Borough.

The councillor for Horton and Wraysbury, in Berkshire, who is also the deputy mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, will no longer be able to run as a candidate in the ward in next May’s elections, following a Conservative group vote to select candidates.

Mr Rayner confirmed he would not be standing in any other ward after what he called a ‘heartbreaking’ decision.

He said: “I was born and bred in Horton and Wraysbury, my parents are buried here, I work and farm here. I can’t represent another ward that I have no compassion or love for like I have for Horton and Wraysbury.“I’ve had some fantastic times here and I will miss the people and learning their stories. It’s been a real honour to have served them for the last thirteen years.”

Cllr Rayner has represented the ward of Wraysbury and Horton since 2005. He runs Berkyn Manor Farm in Stanwell Road, Horton and served in the cabinet as lead member for highways, responsible for the borough’s roads, for four years.

He has also served as mayor and is currently serving a second term as deputy mayor. His wife Samantha Rayner is a councillor representing the boroughs Eton Wick, close to Eton College where prince William and Harry attended.

On Saturday, September 8 the councillor tweeted about the deselection, saying: “Today I was not selected by the local Conservative members to stand in May 2019. I have loved every second helping and working with the great residents of Horton and Wraysbury.”

The tweet came only hours after he had tweeted about an important meeting with Home Secretary Sajid Javid last Thursday night in Windsor, to discuss seasonal workers’ permit scheme for agriculture jobs.

The councillor said he now plans to help in the ward as much as he possibly can before the elections, but that he hopes the ward will find itself in safe hands after he is no longer eligible to serve as its councillor.

He said: “I wish the other candidates the best and hope they work as hard as I feel I have over the past thirteen years.

He said: “It’s the end of a long journey for me, which is a bit heart-wrenching. That’s democracy for you.”