Leader of Dudley's Labour group quits party after 41 years over welfare cuts

Councillor Pete Lowe, who twice served as leader of the council, announced his decision in a withering letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

He becomes the fourth member of Dudley Council's Labour group to quit the party since the election last May, and the biggest name to date.

He has represented Lye and Stourbridge North ward since 2006. He also represented St Andrew's ward from 2003-2006.

Councillor Lowe said he would now sit as an independent alongside former Labour colleagues Councillor Steve Edwards and Councillor Karen Westwood. But he said he would not rule out forming a new group on the council.

"I will be looking at all options that give the people of Dudley a real voice and alternative, one founded on anti-austerity, tolerance and inclusion," he said

Councillor Lowe, who joined the party in 1984, described the decision as 'heartbreaking' , but said he had little choice  

"The national party is not only attacking the most vulnerable in society, but silencing voices within the party who dare to speak up," he said.

"First, they came for the pensioners and our children and now they are coming for the sick, vulnerable and disabled."

Councillor Lowe said he had recently opposed plans by the ruling Conservative group to cut £42 million from its budget.

"I cannot attack the Tories in Dudley for cutting support for the most vulnerable, whilst staying silent when the Government does the same," he said.

He said he still had great respect for his friends within the Dudley Labour group, and would continue to work with them.

Councillor Lowe was leader of Dudley Council from December 2014 to May 2017, and then from September to November 2018.

In his letter to Sir Keir Starmer, he wrote: "I have been a councillor for over 20 years, representing proudly one of the most deprived communities in our borough. 

"I have sought to promote unity, be an advocate for the most vulnerable in our society, defend their rights and promote their aspirations.

"I cannot in all honesty be consistent to my principles, or the community I serve if I choose my party over the people I was elected to represent. If it's wrong for the Tories to be attacking the most vulnerable in our community in Dudley, then it must be wrong for my government to be doing the same."

Councillor Lowe, who has fought three general elections campaigns as a Labour candidate in Stourbridge constituency, and also challenged Andy Street for the role of West Midland mayor, said he had found himself at odds with the party leadership in the past, but always comforted himself that there were like-minded people in the party.

But he said these numbers were now dwindling, either leaving the party through choice, or being expelled or suspended.

"I always believed, and voiced, that the Labour party was on the side of not just working people, but also those on welfare, who were dependant on the system to survive," said Councillor Lowe. 

"It appears I was wrong."

Last year's 'all up' election, which saw all 72 seats on the council up for grabs, left the authority on a knife-edge, with Labour and the Conservatives both holding 34 seats, the Liberal Democrats three, and one independent who had formerly been a Conservative councillor. 

However, since then, Labour has lost five seats, and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats gained one each. 

Councillor Andrew Tromans, who represented Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, resigned from the Labour Party in September last year, and this month announced he would be joining the Liberal Democrats. The following November, Councillor Judy Foster, deputy leader of the Labour group, resigned her Brockmoor and Pensnett seat, which was subsequently taken by the Conservatives.

Last month fellow Brockmoor and Pensnett member Councillor Steve Edwards was expelled from the Labour Party for his comments about Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, and earlier this month his ward colleague Councillor Karen Westwood resigned from the party.

The Conservatives now hold 35 seats, Labour 26, Liberal Democrats four, with seven independents.

Pete Lowe's letter to Sir Keir Starmer in full

Dear Prime Minister Keir Starmer

RE: Resignation as Leader of Dudley Labour Group and Labour Party 

This is the hardest letter I have ever had to write, but also, I believe the most important. 

I joined the Labour Party in 1984. I recognised then, that if we wanted to change the world,we needed to do it collectively, united in purpose. Whilst the party was never perfect, it at least gave a voice to those most in need of being heard, a place to debate, socialise and fundamentally campaign towards a government that would make our communities a better place. 

I have been a party activist throughout my membership, put party before my family, my friends and myself. I have served the party at every level, I’ve been parliamentary candidate through three elections, and helped deliver the party's victory in 2024 including the exceptional result in Stourbridge and the election of my good friend Cat Eccles MP. In addition, I worked tirelessly in the Black Country to elect Richard Parker as the first West Midlands mayor. 

I have been a councillor for over 20 years, representing proudly one of the most deprived communities in our borough. I have sought to promote unity, be an advocate for the most vulnerable in our society, defend their rights and promote their aspirations. I represent a community I was born in, and fundamentally believe in. A proud working-class community where all contribute, given the opportunity, according to their needs and abilities.Generations of our family were Labour before me, my mom even met Jenny Lee after the war as our NHS was created. They were proud, as I was to be Labour and fight for real and lasting change. 

I have been proud to be the elected leader of Dudley Labour Party, a proud, good group of people demonstrating the very best of Black Country values. Bostin people as we say around here...in body and in soul!

I have been loyal, arguably beyond loyal, to the Labour Party throughout my 41years, having the discipline to argue and debate behind closed doors, uniting behind a position and then campaigning on it. When the party chose a path I did not agree with, I was always comforted by the fact that there were still like-minded people within the party, or within the wider Trade Union movement with a voice like mine to argue the alternative. I still had a home....my home...a party of working people striving for inclusion, equality,tolerance and compassion.

 Last month, as leader of Dudley Labour, I led the campaign to oppose the local Tory budget of £42million of cuts to the people of Dudley. Included in this were significant cuts to local voluntary organisations and welfare rights advisors. I told them that this was wrong and unnecessary. Labour Group proposed an amendment that would have protected the very people that the Tories, and now the government seem so keen to attack.

I cannot in all honesty be consistent to my principles, or the community I serve if I choose my party over the people I was elected to represent. If it's wrong for the Tories to be attacking the most vulnerable in our community in Dudley, then it must be wrong for my government to be doing the same. To be associated with this attack is not something I can be part of. Even if these attacks are mitigated and reduced, the very fact that a Labour Party can cause such fear and worry to many of the most vulnerable people is I believe intolerable. These are not Labour values.

Many of my friends and their families, in addition to my constituents, will be severely impacted by this. It is wrong. 

I always believed, and voiced, that the Labour party was on the side of not just working people, but also those on welfare, who were dependant on the system to survive. It appears I was wrong. My likeminded colleagues’ numbers are dwindling, either leaving the party through choice or via suspension/expulsion. I have now concluded which side I am on.

So, I will be leaving the Labour Party, resigning my position as leader of Dudley Labour group with a heavy heart. I have hundreds of friends, closely bonded through our work,beliefs and values within the party. But I believe I speak for thousands within Dudley, and millions nationally, when I say that the Labour Party has lost its soul, forgotten its core purpose, it now chooses to prioritise the few over the many, the privileged over the most vulnerable.

 I leave the party with my head held high, I have been part of massive transformations and movements, from standing against Thatcher’s Clause 28, to campaigning with my trade union to expose PFI and its impact on working-class workers in the NHS. I'm proud to have stood, united against the BNP and then EDL when they came to our town to spread their hatred. For decades I could march, protest and campaign proudly with my Labour placards held high. More recently I have had to show my solidarity undercover, fearful that if discovered I would be sanctioned from within.

My family and friends, who have always been supportive now question if my values, the value of peace, social justice, equality, solidarity are still compatible with today’s Labour Party. I always said it was redeemable, that we could get the party to change from within, to have hope for my party. But I have finally concluded, and its heartbreaking to say so, that my party has left me behind, found new friends and priorities in the city and the markets, whilst the very people who look to the party for a real alternative, good honest working-class people in the Black Country and beyond have been abandoned. 

I am not leaving the Labour Party...the Labour Party left me some time ago. 

To paraphrase Tony Benn...I shall be leaving the Labour Party to spend more time on politics. 

Yours in sadness

Councillor Pete Lowe

Lye and Stourbridge North Ward