The former leader of Aberdeenshire Council has quit the Scottish Conservatives after issuing a cryptic statement to the media.
Mark Findlater - who represents the Troup ward - now plans to sit as an unaligned independent councillor.
He would not be drawn on the exact reasons behind his resignation yesterday.
However, in a statement, he said: “CS Lewis said 'One of the most cowardly things people do is shut their eyes to facts'.
“Knowing what I know, and what is going to be expected of me, I have resigned as vice-chair of the Banff and Buchan Conservatives, and indeed as a Conservative.”
He added: “I am no coward. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. This is mine.”
Mr Findlater had been ousted as the head of the local Conservative party group last year at the group's annual general meeting (AGM).
His former party said it wished him well.