More suspensions expected at Sandwell Council as Labour steps in to quell civil war
Labour councillors in Sandwell are bracing themselves for another round of damaging suspensions as national party leaders try to take the warring council in hand.
Party insiders said that an ongoing civil war had forced an internal investigation by the party’s powerful National Executive Committee.
An update on the inquiry is expected to be discussed by the governing body at its meeting in February.
Its recommendations are said to include another round of membership suspensions of sitting councillors.
Such a move would prove politically embarrassing coming only weeks before the local elections which are expected to be held in May.
The party’s probe follows a series of allegations into the council’s Labour group which has been fighting a long-running internal battle for who controls the authority.
They include claims of racist behaviour, anti-Semitism, bullying, leaking confidential information and corruption dating back years.
Following the local elections in 2019, two councillors were expelled from the party only hours before a crucial vote on who would lead the council.
Subsequently Councillor Yvonne Davies became the third different leader of the council in a matter of months when she defeated Ann Shackleton by 35 to 33 votes.
Councillor Davies denied any involvement in the expulsions but last year her party membership was suspended after claims she had posted anti-Semitic messages on social media.
In a speech resigning as council leader, Councillor Davies said investigations she had begun had uncovered widespread political misconduct in the authority.
She added: “People should be in no doubt at all. Some of those findings are truly shocking, including cover-ups, misuse of public funds, reports being leaked, use of private emails to cover up, lies being told too. Clear racism.”
Since her suspension another three councillors have been suspended while two others are the subject of complaints to the party.
Councillor Maria Crompton is the acting leader of the council until a group meeting of Labour councillors choose a replacement for Councillor Davies.
Councillor Crompton replaced Councillor Davies, who had replaced Councillor Steve Trow who stepped down shortly after replacing Steve Eling, who was also suspended by Labour's National Executive Committee.
