A county councillor who was kicked out of the Labour Party for allegedly supporting a banned group has said she will appeal the decision.
As reported by The Mirror, Cllr Holly Waddell, who represents Bywell on Northumberland County Council, was expelled from the Labour Party after allegedly supporting Socialist Appeal - an openly communist organisation banned under Labour's rules.
It is understood the party acted due to Cllr Waddell liking posts on social media related to the group.
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Cllr Waddell, who won the Bywell ward from the Conservative Party in the 2021 May Elections, has denied being a member of the group and vowed to fight the decision.
In a statement issued online, Cllr Waddell said: "On Friday, February 25 I was informed that I had been expelled from the Labour Party.
"It is my belief that the party have mistakenly taken likes from my personal Facebook page as an endorsement of a group proscribed by the Labour Party, Socialist Appeal.
"I am not and have never been a member of this organisation, nor have I supported it in any sense. I have never bought their paper, attended any events, or given them financial support.
"I was shocked and saddened by this decision which I will be appealing.
"In the meantime, my values have not changed. I will continue to do my best to represent the people of Bywell division - A seat I won for the Labour Party for the first time since 2005, a seat that was held by the Conservatives.
"I will continue to support the efforts of Northumberland Labour group in holding the Tory administration to account.
"I was elected on a Labour Party platform with Labour Party values. According to the Labour Party's website, these are and have 'always been about people. It was formed to give ordinary people a voice and has sought power in order to improve their lives.'
"I have always tried to be open and honest with those I represent. While I am appealing this decision, I will not be able to comment on it any further."
Labour Leader Keir Starmer was accused of launching a purge of Left-wingers loyal to former Leader Jeremy Corbyn when he banned Socialist Appeal and three other groups last year, which either openly promoted communism or claimed anti-Semitism allegations against the party were overblown.
Those banned included Resist, Labour Against the Witchhunt and Labour In Exile, which expressly welcomes expelled or suspended members.
The openly-Marxist Socialist Appeal also became a forbidden group, and anyone found to be a member when the rules changed last year faced auto-exclusion.
Northumberland Labour leader Cllr Scott Dickinson said Cllr Waddell would "continue to he a hard working independent councillor."
He added she would "go through the appeals process" and said: "I won't comment further on individual councillors."
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