A second Reform UK councillor has quit the group on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) and launched a scathing attack on its group leader.

Eleonora Gough was one of the stories of May's local elections being elected in the Elmdon ward despite her husband Michael – who led the group at the time – losing his seat.

The councillor has published her resignation letter which is addressed directly to group leader Cllr Samantha Gethen.

In it Cllr Gough says: "I want to be very clear what this is about.

"It is not a resignation from Reform UK.

"My support for the party, its principles, and its national leadership still stands unchanged.

"This is a resignation from the local councillors' group alone.

"First the group has become divisive and unprofessional rather than constructive, under your leadership, and that is something I am no longer willing to be associated with.

"Second, the working environment within the group has become toxic and hostile towards anyone who holds a different opinion to you and those closest to you within the group.

"This is no longer conducive to good working relationships amongst all councillors and the effect on my mental health and overall wellbeing has been significant.

"I am not the first to reach this conclusion and I doubt I will be the last.

"My decision is final."

In a further statement on social media the councillor added: "I want to be clear what happened next because it was not my choice.

"Following my resignation, Reform UK removed my party membership.

"I did not choose to leave the party.

"I will continue to serve as your councillor, now sitting as an independent, with the same commitment to this community that I brought to the role from day one."

In response the Reform UK group of councillors issued a joint statement saying they "do not recognise the picture painted in that letter".

"Cllr Gethen has been a strong, disciplined and effective leader of the group since taking on the role and we stand behind her leadership without reservation," the statement said.

"Holding one another to a high standard is not the same as hostility and we reject any suggestion that this group's culture is anything other than professional and focused on the job residents elected us to do.

"We wish Cllr Gough well in her ward.

"As for the rest of us, our focus remains exactly where it should be on delivering for the residents of Solihull."

A Reform UK source added: "Eleonora hasn't even been in the country for almost six weeks, she's been on holiday.

"It's hard to see how she's reached firm conclusions about a working environment she hasn't actually been part of.

"Residents should also know that Cllr Gough's husband, Mike Gough, previously led this group before losing his seat and Samantha was elected leader in his place.

"Residents can draw their own conclusions about the true motives here."

The resignation is another blow for the Reform UK group which became the second largest at May's local elections.

In July Cllr David Hoey quit saying he had "encountered behaviour I do not believe is appropriate for elected representatives".

In response at the time Coun Gethen said it was a "relief" as she claimed Coun Hoey had "quickly alienated all his council colleagues" following his election.

The defection means the council make up is now

• Conservatives 25
• Reform UK 15
• Liberal Democrats 6
• Green Party 4
• Independent 1