The Mayor of Liverpool has expressed her disappointment after Labour councillors left the party to form their own group.
Mayor Joanne Anderson has given her reaction to the new political banding established at Liverpool Town Hall as Cllrs Alison Clarke, Rona Heron, Joanne Calvert, Alfie Hincks and Alan Gibbons jumped ship to pair up with existing independent members, former Lord Mayor Anna Rothery, Sam Gorst and Sarah Morton. In March, the five shocked the Labour group by defying the party whip to oppose the annual budget - which led to their suspension.
Earlier this month, the sanctioned members gave Labour an ultimatum to resolve their cases by today or they would resign. As no response was forthcoming, the members have cut ties with the party and are branching out.
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It was confirmed on Sunday that Cllr Gibbons had been expelled from the party altogether. He tweeted: “I will continue to campaign for socialist policies and ideas and support all friends doing the same whether inside or outside the Labour Party.”
As the news of the split reverberates across Liverpool Town Hall, Mayor Anderson said she remained focused on the job in hand. She said: “The Labour Party is always disappointed when members choose to leave the party, but my focus is on the people of the city and delivering the services they deserve.
“For 12 years the Tory government have cut Liverpool’s money by 65% - £465 million – this means taking difficult decisions but always trying to protect the most vulnerable.” The new group leaves Labour with 60 seats out of 90 on the city council.
There are now 12 independents on the council, the same as the Liberal Democrat group. No further changes have been made to the other parties, meaning four Green Party councillors remain alongside a quarter of Liberal Party members.
The move to break ranks from Labour comes on the heels of the party retaining one vacant seat in Warbreck and another in Everton following the victories for new councillors Sam East and Ellie Byrne. A third by-election in a Labour seat will be held in Fazakerley after former member Lindsay Melia - who also voted against the Labour budget - stepped down.
Mayor Anderson defended the budget she and the cabinet had put before councillors in March after parting shots had been fired by the rebels. She said: “Councils right across the country of all political colours are telling the government they must stop cutting council budgets.
“Our budget protected our emergency grants, our council tax support system, our children's centres, our leisure centres and our libraries, including our community run libraries.
“We are investing in our people and our city.”
