Two Bracknell councillors have quit Labour, accusing the party of abandoning its principles and beliefs.
Two Bracknell councillors have left the Labour Party, claiming it has abandoned its principles.
Cherise Welch, from Harmans Water & Crown Wood, and Caroline Egglestone, from Bullbrook, have launched ‘the Bracknell Forest Independents’ after being elected on the Labour ticket in 2023.
They expressed frustration over the council's leadership, stating that their views were ignored and that the Labour Government does not understand the impact of its decisions on local communities.
In a joint statement, they said: “The majority of our principles and beliefs have vanished within the Labour Party, and for this reason we cannot continue to support them. We have struggled with Local Leadership who have not been interested in opinions from us backbenchers where they differ to their own.”
They added that the leadership's unwillingness to discuss or take responsibility for decisions made it impossible to remain with the party.
Now, the council consists of 20 Labour councillors, 10 Conservatives, seven Liberal Democrats, two Greens, and the two independents. This shift has resulted in the council moving from Labour control to 'no overall control'.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
