Worthing Borough Council’s Conservatives have questioned the decision by three local Councillors to defect from the Labour group - just days after being elected.
Three Councillors - Cllrs. Walker, Howard and Schan - have formed an independent grouping on the Council, citing disagreements with the direction the Party is taking nationally under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Worthing’s Conservative group have called into question the decision, arguing that it has deceived residents who voted for a Labour Councillor in the expectation they would serve as such. They also raised concerns that if the Labour group cannot maintain unity within their group following a renewal from election results, then could they be trusted to lead a stable Council administration in the future.
Cllr Kevin Jenkins, Leader of the Conservative group on Worthing Borough Council, said:
“The announcement that Cllrs. Walker, Howard and Schan have resigned from the Labour Party is of little surprise. The differing political ideologies and factions within the Labour group have been there for all to see and we hope they will listen to residents and call a by-election.
“Questions must be asked as to whether this announcement has deceived the local electorate. These three Councillors have stood under the Labour Party banner, encouraging support for Labour candidates in the election, in the full knowledge that after the election they would resign from the party. This may have had an impact on voters’ intentions and may have produced a different election result.
“Fundamentally, if the Labour Party cannot be trusted to uphold their commitments to residents on something so basic as party allegiance, how can we trust them to run Worthing in the best interests of residents?”
Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West added:
“The Labour group in Worthing is troubled and divided. They have shown local voters disrespect by running candidates that do not seek to uphold their promises to the electorate. Local residents will wonder if more Councillors will also abandon Labour.
"The Labour Leader’s visits to Worthing have resulted in his own local Councillors turning their backs. If they don’t back him, why should they expect Worthing’s residents to?”