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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hastings Borough Council: Leader and five other councillors quit Labour | Hastings Borough Council: Leader and five other councillors quit Labour |
| (5 months later) | |
| Council leader Paul Barnett was among those who resigned | Council leader Paul Barnett was among those who resigned |
| Council leader Paul Barnett was among those who resigned | |
| The leader of Hastings Borough Council, and five other councillors, have resigned from the Labour Party and set up an independent group. | The leader of Hastings Borough Council, and five other councillors, have resigned from the Labour Party and set up an independent group. |
| They said the party no longer provided the "policies, support or focus on local government" they needed. | They said the party no longer provided the "policies, support or focus on local government" they needed. |
| A Labour spokesman said the councillors' "performative gesture politics has driven the council to the brink of bankruptcy". | A Labour spokesman said the councillors' "performative gesture politics has driven the council to the brink of bankruptcy". |
| Council officers have previously warned that the authority faces bankruptcy. | Council officers have previously warned that the authority faces bankruptcy. |
| Along with leader Paul Barnett, the other councillors to leave the party are: Maya Evans, Andy Batsford, John Cannan, Ali Roark and Simon Willis. | Along with leader Paul Barnett, the other councillors to leave the party are: Maya Evans, Andy Batsford, John Cannan, Ali Roark and Simon Willis. |
| Conservative group leader Andy Patmore said: "The council is facing bankruptcy and it seems these councillors are not willing to take responsibility for their actions. | Conservative group leader Andy Patmore said: "The council is facing bankruptcy and it seems these councillors are not willing to take responsibility for their actions. |
| "Their residents and the town deserve better. They should all resign their council seats so that by-elections can be held in their wards and new representatives can be elected." | "Their residents and the town deserve better. They should all resign their council seats so that by-elections can be held in their wards and new representatives can be elected." |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex, Mr Batsford said: "People don't have to step down when they change a party". | Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex, Mr Batsford said: "People don't have to step down when they change a party". |
| Mr Batsford said in local elections the public "vote for people who work hard in their communities." | Mr Batsford said in local elections the public "vote for people who work hard in their communities." |
| The councillors added in a statement: "Standing up for Hastings, and especially for our residents, will be much easier as independents" and they would continue their work in the area. | The councillors added in a statement: "Standing up for Hastings, and especially for our residents, will be much easier as independents" and they would continue their work in the area. |
| A Labour spokesman said under Keir Starmer's leadership the party had changed "fundamentally". | A Labour spokesman said under Keir Starmer's leadership the party had changed "fundamentally". |
| "The fact that these councillors, all holdouts from the previous regime, no longer feel the Labour Party is their home is conclusive proof of that," they added. | "The fact that these councillors, all holdouts from the previous regime, no longer feel the Labour Party is their home is conclusive proof of that," they added. |
| Hastings Borough Council declined to comment. | Hastings Borough Council declined to comment. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Hastings Borough Council | Hastings Borough Council |