Former leader forced out, says ex
Former Labour councillor Rob Roche has resigned from the party, citing concerns over the forced removal of long-time Luton council leader Hazel Simmons. Roche and five other councillors have formed an independent alliance, leaving the council under no-overall control.
Why it matters
Internal party disputes and the loss of council control can significantly impact local governance and the stability of regional political administration.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Amy Holmes Bedfordshire political reporter Amy Holmes/BBC Rob Roche said he has left the Labour Party after seven years over the way Hazel Simmons was treated A former Labour councillor said he was driven to quit the party after the authority's leader was "forced out".
Rob Roche, who represents Northwell on Luton Borough Councillor, resigned from Labour in July after he said Hazel Simmons "was informed she must stand down but must do a statement resigning her post" by the regional party leadership.
Simmons quit as leader in March after 19 years and was replaced by Tahmina Saleem in May.
A spokesperson for Labour East said: "While the Labour Party does not comment on internal processes, we can confirm there was a National Executive Committee led process earlier this year that was conducted in line with Labour Party policies and procedures."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in