Six Labour councillors quit party to "concentrate on people of Luton"
Six Labour councillors in Luton have left the party after clashing with the party’s eastern region office.
Current mayor and former deputy council leader, Cllr Javed Hussain has left the party along with Cllr Rob Roche, Cllr Tom Shaw, Cllr Yarun Begum, Cllr Rehana Malik and the newly appointed portfolio holder for adult social care and public health Cllr Rumi Chowdhury.
In a joint statement, they said: “As a group we have taken the decision to resign from the Labour Group. We feel that based on recent events the Labour Group of elected Councillors decision making on democracy has been taken away from the local elected Labour members and therefore the Luton residents.
“It is our opinion that control of the Labour group is now with the Eastern region Labour Party. We have formed a group that will concentrate on the people of Luton and give back the democracy to them, and we will concentrate on their needs.”
Luton Borough Council declined to comment.
A Luton Labour spokesperson said: "We are deeply disappointed that Cllr Javed Hussain, Cllr Rumi Chowdhury, Cllr Yarun Begum, Cllr Rehana Malik, Cllr Tom Shaw and Cllr Rob Roche have chosen to resign from Luton Labour Group. We hope that we will continue to be able to work together to deliver the stronger, safer Luton our communities deserve."