Sandwell Conservatives' deputy leader defects to Labour

The deputy leader of Sandwell's Conservative group has defected to Labour in a shock move. Councillor Elaine Costigan says she is disillusioned with the Government's cutbacks.

She said cutting Sandwell's schools building programme was "the last straw."

Mrs Costigan is the daughter of Bill Archer, aged 83, a Conservative councillor in Sandwell for 36 years and Tory Party member for 40.

He is also is her fellow ward member.

Councillor Costigan, who joined the council as a Conservative in 2002, said: "What has happened over the last few months, and the cuts that have been made, have tipped me over the edge. The cuts to Sandwell's Building Schools to the Future funding were the last straw."

The former mayoress said she opted to join the Labour Party rather than standing as an independent as she likes the vision of Sandwell's Labour group. She said: "I am not a political animal. I just want to make life better for the people in the north of the borough."

Wrong

She will remain as a councillor until May, when she will apply to stand as a candidate for Wednesbury North. She was accepted as a member of the Labour Party at a meeting of the West Bromwich West Constituency Labour Party executive committee last night.

Councillor Archer said he is supporting his daughter's decision.

Councillor Ian Jones, vice-chairman of West Bromwich West Constituency Labour Party, said: "The last time Labour had a seat in Wednesbury North was 1997. That was the first one for decades, so this is very good news for the Labour party in Sandwell."

Councillor Darren Cooper, Labour group leader and leader of Sandwell Council, said: "For a long time I thought she was in the wrong political party."

Sandwell's Conservative group leader Councillor Ray Nock, said: "My team are aghast that Councillor Costigan, who only weeks ago was attacking Labour policies openly in the press such as the parking charges in Wednesbury has seen fit to jump ship.

"The real losers are the good folk of Wednesbury."

By Sally Walmsley