A group of rebel Liverpool Labour councillors who broke the whip to vote against their party's budget have officially resigned from the party to form a new political group on the city council.
Five city Labour councillors will join with three elected members who previously left the party to form a new independent opposition grouping on the council. It is a move that was widely rumoured to happen after the rebels were suspended by the party for refusing to back its city budget plans in February.
The new grouping will include councillors Alison Clarke, Rona Heron, Joanne Calvert, Alfie Hincks and Alan Gibbons. They will join together with councillors Sam Gorst, Sarah Morton and former Lord Mayor Anna Rothery - who all previously left Labour.
