Corruption-busting former Labour councillor joins Green Party with stinging rebuke of Sir Keir Starmer

Cradley Heath and Old Hill Councillor John Tipper left Labour before the party's landslide in July but only announced his decision to join the Greens this week.

He told the Express & Star: "I'm delighted to have joined the Green Party and to have the opportunity to make the case for our values here in the heart of the Black Country. 

"Labour have followed the Tories in trying to balance the books on the backs of ordinary working people."

He added: "They're brave enough to make 'tough choices' that hammer the poor and the powerless - but not so much in standing up to vested interests. In fact they've rolled out the red carpet for the very bankers and the billionaires who helped cause the last financial crash."

Councillor Tipper first term as a Labour councillor between 2012 and 2016 was dominated by whistleblowing against Sandwell Council's former deputy leader Councillor Mahboob Hussain's corruption. After choosing Enigma's Return to Innocence as his campaign song the new councillor rooted out dodgy deals and leaked details to the press which sparked a brutal smear campaign against him. 

The 36-year-old returned to frontline politics after Cradley Heath and Old Hill Labour stalwart Anne Shackleton asked him to stand in 2023 after she was forced to stand down after being diagnosed with cancer.

However, despite being impressed by Sandwell Council leader Kerrie Carmichael's stewardship locally, Councillor Tipper was enraged by the national party's direction.

"While the far right online and on the streets threaten our democracy and our way of life Starmer and co are too remote, cold and patronising to take the fight to them and to stand up for the best of Britain."

He added: "I believe the Greens have the right answers on rebuilding our NHS, fighting poverty, making sure everyone has what they need to have a fair shot at a good life - whoever they are and wherever they come from. If you believe tomorrow can be better than yesterday, vote for hope, vote Green."

Councillor Tipper will serve the remainder of his two year term as the borough's only Green councillor and will contest his first local election with his new party in 2027