Councillor resigns during election campaign
A Sandwell councillor who was a close ally of former West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson has resigned from the Labour Party.
Councillor Bill Gavan, who has represented the Langley ward for five years, made his surprise announcement on his private Facebook page earlier this week.
In a short statement, he wrote: “Monday November 11th. I resigned the Labour Whip. I am now an independent Cllr for Langley. Labour Nat, Region and locally. Not in my name.”
He has informed the council of his decision and is now described as an independent on its website.
Despite requests, Councillor Gavan has declined to comment on his resignation but Labour insiders say he has been severely critical of the national party leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
First elected in 2014, he is a successful nightclub owner and was the founding chairman of the Birmingham Pride Festival.
He is thought of as a close political ally of Tom Watson who announced last week that he would no longer seek re-election as the MP for West Bromwich East seat.
Councillor Gavan’s resignation comes as the party is fighting to retain three parliamentary seats in the borough.
Councillor Yvonne Davis, Labour leader of the council, said she was perplexed by his decision: “I have no idea why suddenly out of the blue he has resigned I am as perplexed as everyone else.
“Maybe it’s because Tom has resigned. I genuinely have no idea.”
His resignation comes after a period of intense infighting within the party on Sandwell Council.
In April, five sitting Labour councillors were told they had not been selected as candidates in the local elections.
In May three members were told they had excluded themselves from membership, preventing them voting in a crucial vote to choose the authority’s political leadership.
