Councillors accused of disrupting pandemic fight as they quit to form independent group
Councillors who quit their parties to form a new political group have been accused of damaging a council's efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
George Adamson, the Labour leader of Cannock Chase Council, said the "opportunistic" move by the group of five councillors could only serve to "disrupt" the authority's work in responding to the pandemic.
He also accused Councillor Andrea Layton – who resigned from Labour – of betraying the voters and activists who had got her elected.
They said they made the move to better represent the community, arguing that mainstream parties were ignoring the views of residents.
Mr Adamson said: "It is regrettable that in the middle of a global pandemic, with members from all parties focused on working to help our community, that a small number of councillors have chosen this moment to play political games.
"This opportunistic manoeuvring can only serve to disrupt the work of the council in responding to the current emergency.
"It is also disappointing that a member elected as a Labour councillor by voters in Cannock North, on the back of the campaigning efforts of dozens of Labour activists, has chosen to betray those same voters and activists, particularly at a time when that decision cannot be put to the test at the ballot box."
Ms Layton was elected in Cannock North last year and is next due to face the electorate in 2023.
She said: "I am still staying true to the values that I had when I was elected, but I will be better able to respond to residents working on a community level.
"I feel you are not able to represent the community in a mainstream party because you are following a national political ideology.
"We will now be able to consult with residents and base our priorities on what their needs are."
Other members of Chase Independents include Hednesford Town Council chairman and former Green Party mayoral candidate Kathryn Downs, and former Labour parliamentary candidate for Cannock Chase, Paul Dadge.