Former Labour leader and county councillor for Pembroke Dock, Sue Perkins, has joined the Independent Group Plus at County Hall.

Cllr Perkins is cabinet member for children services and safeguarding, taking up the role in 2012 in the wake of scathing reports into safeguarding in Pembrokeshire.

A Labour group member for many years, Cllr Perkins joins prominent members Cllr Simon Hancock and Cllr Ken Rowlands who also left the Labour group to join the ruling Independents and have cabinet portfolios.

Cllr Perkins had been particularly scathing about Cllr Rowlands' decision to cross the floor at the time but has now taken a similar course of action.

Cllr Paul Miller, current council Labour leader, said it was disappointing that Cllr Perkins had taken the decision not to return to the Labour group in a scrutinising role outside of cabinet.

"Broadly we did a job and did that job because it was important, and now want to move back to scrutinising the implementation and delivery and offered her that opportunity but she declined," he added.

Cllr Miller said he would comment further on Friday. 

Cllr Perkins had not been reached for comment at time of publication.