Green Party councillors in Stroud have criticised the national Labour Party’s “bizarre” decision to put their district council group in opposition alongside the Conservatives.
Green Party councillors in Stroud have criticised the national Labour Party’s “bizarre” decision to put their district council group in opposition alongside the Conservatives
The Labour Party group at Stroud District Council has gone from leading the authority in coalition with the Greens and Liberal Democrats to being out of power after more than a decade working together.
Labour was the largest group in the alliance with 15 councillors after last year’s election but the decision not to include former leader Doina Cornell (Dursley) in their list of prospective parliamentary candidates for Stroud has cost the party dearly.
Councillor Cornell and three others left the Labour group in July to form the Community Independents group.
As a result the Green Party’s Catherine Braun (Wotton-under-Edge) took on the leadership with Labour’s Natalie Bennett (Nailsworth) being elected as her deputy.
But now, Cllr Bennett and four others say they have been left with no choice but to form their own Independent Left Group because the alliance was not sanctioned by the national Labour Party.
Green group deputy leader Steve Hynd (The Stanleys) said: “The national Labour Party has insisted Labour councillors sit with the Tories in opposition.
“This is both bizarre and a reflection of the lack of value that national Labour puts on local political cooperation for a more progressive politics.
“I want to pay tribute both to the Independent Left councillors who have admirably stood up for their principles, and the Labour councillors who have been put between a rock and a hard place by their national party.
“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Independent Left group, the Community Independents group and the Liberal Democrat group, leading the council for everyone in Stroud District”.
The council is now made up of 19 Conservatives, 13 Greens, six Labour councillors, five Independent Left councillors, four Community Independents, three Liberal Democrats and a Conservative without a group. The Labour Party is yet to respond to requests for comment.
