Luton councillor loses Lib Dem whip amid complaint investigation
A complaint lodged against a Liberal Democrat Luton borough councillor has resulted in his losing the party whip, with the issue currently being investigated.
Wigmore councillor Adrees Latif is now listed as an Independent councillor on the local authority’s website.
Liberal Democrat group leader and Barnfield councillor Amjid Ali said in a statement: “I can only confirm that the national party received a complaint about councillor Latif. The result of that is a developing situation, which cannot be commented on further presently.”
Councillor Latif secured his seat on the council after a by-election success in September 2024, topping the poll in Wigmore ward with 749 votes. He ceased to represent the council’s Liberal Democrat group last month.
There are now 28 Labour councillors, 14 Lib Dems, three Conservatives and three Independents on Luton Borough Council.
But a by-election is pending in Wigmore ward after Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Skepelhorn did not attend a council meeting for six months.
If the vacancy declared by the local authority’s administration and regulation committee last week is contested, a by-election is automatically triggered under procedural rules.
Prior to any by-election being held at the very least, the Lib Dems will have 13 councillors on LBC.