Two Luton borough councillors who quit Labour for breakaway group now commit political allegiances to Green Party

The decision by Lewsey councillor Yarun Begum and Beech Hill councillor Rumi Chowdhury has led to the town having two Green Party councillors for the first time, although they remain part of the Independent Alliance.

Their Green Party membership “won’t change their affiliation to the Independent Alliance Group on the council”, according to a Green Party statement.

“The move establishes Green representation on the local authority for the first time, during a period of major change in the council’s political make-up,” said the statement.

Both were elected to serve the borough at the May 2023 local elections and left the local authority’s Labour Group in July this year, initially joining the Independent Alliance which later gained a seventh member.

Councillor Begum and councillor Chowdhury explained in a joint statement: “Our first responsibility is to the people we represent as councillors.

“We believe local representatives should be able to listen to their communities, speak up for them and stand by their principles, even when that’s uncomfortable for those in power.

“We left the Labour Party because we believe it had moved away from those principles under the leadership of Keir Starmer, and we’ve not seen enough under Andy Burnham to convince us that the change needed is coming.

“This includes Gaza. We remain deeply concerned that Andy Burnham has stopped short of recognising the situation in Gaza as genocide, despite the enormous destruction and suffering we’ve witnessed.

“But our decision is also about something bigger: where we believe the future of politics lies. We’ve joined the Green Party because it offers a political home for people who want to put their communities before party machines.

“It stands for those that are prepared to challenge the status quo, and who believe that social justice, a stronger local economy and protecting our environment belong together.

“We’re proud that Luton will have two Green councillors for the first time. Our decision shows that Green politics can take root in communities that have too often been taken for granted, and that no town, ward or community should be considered out of reach,” they added.

“We want to help build a Luton where people have a genuine say in the decisions affecting their lives, where local businesses and good jobs can thrive, where our streets and neighbourhoods are cleaner and greener, and where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

“Other councillors and community campaigners who share those values need to know that there’s a place for them in the Green Party. This is just the beginning.

“We’re making plans already to grow Green representation on the borough council at next year’s elections and to give more people across our town the opportunity to elect a strong independent Green voice.”

The Labour Party remains the largest group on the council with 21 councillors, there are 13 Liberal Democrats, seven in the Independent Alliance Group, including the two Green Party members, three Conservatives, three non-aligned Independents, and a Reform UK councillor.