'Stolen valour' Wolverhampton councillor suspended by Labour group as Tories call for his resignation
A councillor who falsely claimed to have served as a Royal Marine has been suspended by Wolverhampton Council's Labour group - as Tories in the city called for his immediate resignation.
Councillor Greg Brackenridge has been suspended by the council's Labour group after being found guilty of four breaches of the councillor's code of conduct.
Councillor Brackenridge, a Labour councillor for 11 years, was suspended from the group in the wake of a ruling by the council's governance and ethics sub-committee, which found he had shown disrespect to the public, used his position to improperly gain political advantage, and brought both his role and the council into disrepute. He was further found to have breached the code by failing to co-operate with the investigation.
The Wolverhampton Labour Group released a statement stating: "We take the findings of the committee extremely seriously and took action to suspend Councillor Brackenridge from the Labour Group immediately."
The city's Conservative group said Councillor Brackenridge had tarnished the reputation of the entire council, and should resign immediately.
It said the group was frustrated that the council's powers did not allow for harsher sanctions, but commended the sub-committee - made up of three Labour and one Conservative councillor - for using every tool available to address the breach of public trust.
A spokesperson said: "Their efforts stand in stark contrast to Councillor Brackenridge’s own disgraceful behaviour, not least his refusal to cooperate with the investigation.
"This entire scandal is laid bare in the confidential report obtained by the Express & Star, which shows the true scale of Councillor Brackenridge’s deceit, including repeated false claims that he served as a Royal Marine, a lie he told in council meetings, to the public, and even featured in election campaign material."
The statement said Councillor Brackenridge's actions were not a simple mistake, but were 'a calculated and shameless case of stolen valour'.
"They are a betrayal of the armed forces community, and a lie that has insulted countless residents across Wolverhampton."
The statement said Councillor Brackenridge had damaged the integrity of all councillors.
"This includes the honest, hardworking Labour members who now find their reputations unfairly tarnished by association.
"Worst of all, Councillor Brackenridge has not only lied — he has refused to cooperate with the standards process and disrespected the council’s authority.
"This is almost unprecedented, and demonstrates utter contempt for the city and the office he holds. He must resign, immediately."
Monday's (July 28) hearing was told about an election leaflet in which Councillor Brackenridge referred to 'my previous professional careers, firstly with the Royal Marines, and then as a local firefighter'.
In September 2021, during his term as mayor, he unveiled the Saraghari Memorial memorial to Sikh soldiers in Wednesfield, saying: "I served as a Royal Marine myself when I left my school and I worked with members of the Sikh community in the armed forces, and people from all around the world - the Nepalese and the Gurkhas."
He was also pictured wearing a Royal Marines tie. But it later emerged that while he did some Commando training after leaving school, he never completed the training and was therefore not entitled to describe himself as a former Royal Marine.
Councillor Brackenridge said that he had spent 30 weeks going through the Royal Marine training process, but had to withdraw before he completed the training due to personal circumstances.
Independent investigator Melvyn Kenyon, called in by the council to look at the allegations, said Councillor Brackenridge should have made it clear he never progressed beyond the 'recruit' stage, without 'passing out', and therefore did not have the right to say he served as a Royal Marine.
Mr Kenyon concluded: "By embellishing his military service, he showed disrespect towards those who have served, been injured and died in military service and towards those whose military personnel who have lost or otherwise supported those people.
"His words at the unveiling of the Saraghari Memorial showed particular disrespect towards members of the Sikh community for whom Saraghari Day is an annual commemoration of the bravery and sacrifice of Sikh soldiers."
Councillor Brackenridge was contacted for comment.
