Former Labour North Luton chairman cites ''profound disregard for loyal membership' as he defects to Green Party

Irak Chowdhury, who chaired the Challney branch, announced the reasoning behind his decision on social media earlier this month.

Labour Luton borough councillor for Challney ward Tom Shaw revealed in March that he was stepping down as chairman of the Labour group on the local authority.

And reacting to councillor Shaw’s decision, Labour Northwell councillor Rob Roche said he cannot continue as finance portfolio holder on the local authority’s executive for similar reasons.

Councillor Shaw posted: “I have today resigned as chair of the Labour group on LBC, as I find myself not being able to support the railroading of this year’s annual general meeting.”

Councillor Roche commented: “Can I say that I and other Labour councillors fully agree with Tom’s comments? I too won’t play their game and have stood down from the executive committee. The new executive takes over in May and I won’t be part of it.”

The new LBC executive is due to be announced at a full council meeting on Tuesday, (May 19) when Labour Biscot councillor Tahmina Saleem takes over as council leader, replacing Labour Lewsey councillor Hazel Simmons.

Mr Chowdhury shared on Facebook the resignation letter he sent to the CLP chairman last month.

It read: “I write to formally resign my membership of the Labour Party after 37 years of service, including being a councillor and currently a branch chairman.

“The party has shown a profound disregard for its long-serving and loyal membership in recent years. The treatment of members who’ve given decades of service has been dismissive at best and punitive at worst.

“Loyalty, once respected, now appears to be treated as expendable. I’m particularly concerned by the systematic erosion of internal democracy and the growing culture of intolerance towards dissent.

“Members who speak out, whether on issues of justice, human rights or party direction, have too often faced disciplinary action or exclusion. A movement that once prided itself on being broad church, inclusive, and member-led has become increasingly centralised and controlled.

“I cannot ignore what I see as a deep inconsistency between the party’s stated commitment to justice and its actions, particularly in relation to international human rights concerns.

“The current regime has created an environment where resistance and speaking out against genocide has become, in effect, a punishable offence. The perception that some voices are silenced while others are protected raises serious questions about the party’s moral direction and integrity.

“Taken together, these developments have led me to conclude that the Labour Party has moved too far from the principles that first inspired me to join. I can no longer in good conscience remain part of an organisation I believe is failing to uphold its own values,” added the letter.

“Having carefully considered the policies of other parties, I’ve found that the Green Party stands out for its clear and unapologetic commitment to fairness and justice, without being influenced by a foreign interest lobbying group.

“It’s for this reason that I’ll be joining the Green Party, as it reflects the same principles which originally inspired me to join Labour. I leave with sadness, but also with clarity.”

Labour East, councillor Simmons, councillor Shaw and councillor Roche have been asked to comment by the local democracy reporting service, but have not yet responded.