Walsall Conservatives 'publicly shame their own party' amid ‘disgraceful’ deselections at meeting

Seven councillors in total spoke up against a recent decision by Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association to deselect Councillor Keith Sears.

Councillors Sears is one of nine councillors at Walsall Council who were not approved to stand at the upcoming local elections in May.

At the meeting on Monday night, Councillor Sears was being congratulated for his 50 years of unbroken service as a councillor at the authority.

Members spoke of his loyalty, advocacy for residents and his wealth of knowledge.

But the celebrations were overshadowed by the ‘reprehensible’ decision of the association to deselect Councillor Sears, his colleagues said.

Seven members spoke out against the decision, four of them from the Conservative group.

Councillor Mike Bird, leader at the authority, said: “Keith is one of the best patch councillors I’ve ever come across. Some of the stories you would have read about the Conservative Party having treated certain individuals, of which Keith is one of them, is reprehensible.”

Councillor Bobby Bains, who described Councillor Sears as a ‘giant of Walsall politics’, said: “I think Keith Sears would have had a long tenure in the council but the Conservative Party, locally, within Aldridge, has been infiltrated by Wendy Morton and her people.”

Councillor Pete Smith: “You’re well thought of and I know the loyalty you’ve shown to the party. I’m sorry the party hasn’t shown the same loyalty to you. That’s very, very sad indeed.”

Councillor Vera Waters, who resigned from the Tory party in November saying it had ‘lost its way’, added: “I have to say what has happened to him is absolutely disgraceful.

“That man should have made his own choice about when he went. That man has still got life in him to go out and fight campaigns and deliver leaflets.”

Councillor Waheed Rasab said: “I have a lot of respect for Keith. But sadly, the way he has been treated is unfair.

“Not putting him on the approved list after 50 years is an insult, and an eye opener – it could be you next.

“If your face doesn’t fit in, you’ll be out and this is what you get after 50 years of service. Those five who sat on the panel, who have never delivered a leaflet, didn’t approve you. But I have all the respect for you and I hope everything goes well for you.”

Councillor Anthony Harris, recognising the part Councillor Sears played in having the leisure centres built in Bloxwich and Walsall Wood, added: “If only for that, that man should have had some reward.

“What they’ve done to him, this Conservative Party, is a disgrace. After 50 long years of unbroken loyalty. You talk about loyalty; it should be two ways, not just one way. He’s been 100 per cent loyal and they’ve treated him like you know what.”

Councillor Ram K Mehmi said: “This is a Conservative Party matter, nothing to do with me. But I do feel he’s not been treated fairly.”

Also not approved as candidates in the May elections were Councillors Gaz Ali (Birchills Leamore), Sarah Cooper (Streetly), Nick Gandham (Paddock), Amo Hussain (Birchills Leamore), Amanda Parkes (Aldridge North and Walsall Wood), Waheed Rasab (Paddock) and Suky Samra (Streetly).

The unprecedented decision, made by a panel at the Aldridge Brownhills Conservative Association, has been heavily criticised.

All nine councillors appealed the decision in August last year.

But the association didn’t respond to them until over 10 weeks later – the same day the Local Democracy Reporting Service approached the branch for comment about the silence.

All members except Councillor Rasab and Councillor Ali had their appeal upheld and were given a second chance to undergo a Stage 1 Interview.

But the seven councillors were later refused once again.

The Conservative Party, Aldridge Brownhills Conservative Association, and Wendy Morton have been approached for comment by the LDRS.