10th councillor leaves Dudley Labour group

Councillor Stuart Turner, who represents the key marginal Gornal ward, said he was unable to support the group's new leadership under Councillor Adam Aston, and said the group had suffered a 'disastrous' performance over the past year.

Councillor Aston was appointed by the Labour Party's National Executive Committee last month in the wake of a spate of resignations, including former leader Councillor Pete Lowe.

But unlike most of his former colleagues, Councillor Turner has not left the party itself, and said he was still committed to supporting Sir Keir Starmer's government.

He also ruled out joining the new Dudley Independent Group, made up of six former Labour councillors.

Councillor Turner, who was elected last year, having previously served the ward from 2011 to 2015, will now sit as an unaffiliated independent.

"I am unable to support the new leadership," he said.

"This comes as a result of what I see as the future of the new leadership to make the tough decisions needed that would allow us to take the fight to the Tories and the other opposition groups."

Councillor Turner said he was initially pleased when Councillor Aston was appointed to succeed Councillor Lowe as opposition leader. 

"Ir didn't bother me that much that he was forced on the party, I thought it was good that we had a new team and that we could take the fight to the Conservatives," he said.

"But it soon became clear that it was going to be more of the same, after a terrible year. We have got lots of good people in the group, but we are not making sure we have got the most experienced people in the right areas.

"It has become clear to me in recent days that the Dudley Labour group is not a meritocracy, and the new leadership is not serious about improving on an overall disastrous performance as a group in the chamber last year, when our front bench was regularly outmanoeuvred out-thought and outplayed leading us to consistently fail in our task of holding the Tories to account."

Councillor Turner had previously served as deputy leader of the council and cabinet member during his first time in office, when Labour was in control.

Councillor Aston said: “It is regretful that Councillor Turner has taken the decision to leave Dudley Labour group, with the new group leadership only having been in place for a matter of weeks, I struggle to see how he has reached this conclusion. 

“Both I, my shadow cabinet and the wider Labour group will robustly hold to account the Conservative administration who have failed Dudley and its citizens for almost a decade.” 

Councillor Turner was voted back in during last year's 'all-up' local elections, which saw all 72 seats up for re-election. Labour and the Conservatives both tied on 34 seats each, with the balance of power being held by three Liberal Democrats and independent Councillor Shaun Keasey, a former Conservative. The Conservatives retained leadership of the council.

Since then, the Labour group has been hit by a string of resignations. Councillor Andrew Tromans, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, became the first member to quit the party in September, later joining the Liberal Democrats in March this year.

In November, Councillor Judy Foster who was deputy leader of the Labour group, announced she would be quitting the council after 27 years, although she remained a member of the party. A subsequent by-election in her Brockmoor and Pensnett ward was won by Conservative Alex Dale.

In February, .fellow Brockmoor and Pensnett ward member Councillor Steve Edwards was expelled from the party after calling for Sir Keir Starmer's resignation. At the start of this month, Councillor Karen Westwood, who also represents Brockmoor and Pensnett, announced her resignation from the party, accusing the Prime Minister of an 'attack on the working class'.

In March group leader, Councillor Pete Lowe became the biggest name to resign, after 41 years in the party. The member for Lye and Stourbridge North was swiftly followed by Councillor Peter Drake, who represents Coseley, Councillor Karl Denning who serves Castle and Priory ward, and Councillor Matt Cook who represents Brierley Hill and Wordsley South. 

Councillors Lowe, Edwards, Westwood, Denning, Drake and Cook have since formed the Dudley Independent Group, which is now the third largest group on the council.

Councillor Luke Hamblett also resigned, and has since joined the Liberal Democrats.

Councillor Turner's resignation leaves the Conservatives with 35 seats on the council, Labour 24, Dudley Independent Group six, Liberal Democrats five, and non-affiliated independents two.