Ninth councillor leaves Dudley Labour group

Councillor Luke Hamblett, who represents Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood, becomes the sixth member to quit the party this month, following last month's expulsion of Councillor Steve Edwards over his comments about Sir Keir Starmer.

It is not yet known whether Councillor Hamblett will be joining six other former Labour councillors who have formed the Dudley Independent Group.

Councillor Hamblett said: "With a heavy heart, I am leaving the Labour Party.

"Last year, I was full of optimism when I was elected to serve Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood. Like the rest of the country, I believed change was on the way.

"With dismay at first and then disgust, I watched as a 'Labour' government kept the two-child benefit cap, removed winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners, and are now targeting people with disabilities. Enough is enough."

Councillor Hamblett said, speaking as an accountant, he could see the devastating impact the National Insurance hike was having on small and medium-sized businesses in the borough, and warned that jobs would be lost.

"Locally, the Dudley Labour group is rudderless and afraid to speak out, hence why so many long-standing party members are leaving," he added.

It means the Dudley Labour group is now down to 25 members, compared to 34 who were elected at last year's 'all up' election which brought the party within striking distance of taking control of the Tory-led authority.

Councillor Andrew Tromans, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, became the first member to quit the party in September, and this month announced he would be joining the Liberal Democrats. 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 remains 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'.

Last week group leader, Councillor Pete Lowe became the biggest name to resign. The councillor for Lye and Stourbridge North had been a party member for 41 years. He was 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. It is understood that Sedgley independent Councillor Shaun Keasey - who left the Conservatives in 2023 - is also in talks about the possibility of joining the group.

Councillor Hamblett's resignation leaves the Conservatives with 35 seats on the council, Labour 25, Dudley Independent Group six, Liberal Democrats four, and non-affiliated independents two.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Labour said: "Labour inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives which risked a generation of young people being written off and millions of people who want to work not getting the support they need. Labour will deliver a social security system that is fit for the future."