Labour councillors resign EN MASSE as local party goes into meltdown and in-fighting erupts
A Labour 'meltdown' has erupted in Norfolk after a sixth councillor resigned in the space of 24 hours
PA
A Labour "meltdown" has erupted in Norfolk after six councillors resigned in the space of 24 hours.
Maxine Webb became the sixth representative to announce that she was leaving the party following a dramatic meeting where five other councillors revealed they were quitting.
Both the city and county council will be affected with four city councillors members departing and two county representatives.
Webb confirmed she will now represent the Wensum area on Norfolk County Council as an Independent.
Maxine Webb announced that she was leaving the party following a dramatic meeting where five other councillors revealed they were quitting
Norfolk Labour
The councillor said she was leaving the party after the “unjust deselection" of Town Close city councillor Ian Stutely.
She added that she could no longer trust her former colleagues.
Stutely was one of the six members to resign at a Norwich City Council meeting yesterday evening.
However, there were no details of his deselection in the meeting and the reason remains unknown.
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The other members who have announced their departure include: Emma Corlett, former deputy Labour group leader at Norfolk County Council; Cate Oliver cabinet member for wellbeing and culture at City Hall; and city councillors Karen Davis and Rachel Everett.
In a statement, Webb said her move to the comes “with regret and a heavy heart”.
She said: "This follows recent events within Norwich Labour Party and the wider regional and national party structures, and in particular, the unjust deselection of Town Close city councillor Ian Stutely.
"The involvement in that process of Labour colleagues with whom I work closely and need to be able to trust, has made my position representing Wensum as a Labour councillor, unmanageable.
Both the city and county council will be affected with four city councillors members departing and two county representatives
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"Furthermore, I cannot stand by and do nothing in response to the resulting loss of Emma Corlett from the county Labour Group following her own resignation from the party.
"Emma has been a huge personal and political influence and has played an irreplaceable role in my journey to standing as, and becoming, a county councillor."
Webb added that she had no issue with Labour colleagues at Norfolk County Council and thanked the group leader at County Hall, Steve Morphew for his support.