Commitment, confusion and comedy: five big moments from fractious Dudley Council budget debate
Passions run high during big debates at Dudley Council as councillors exchange verbal blows across the chamber.
A meeting of the authority on Monday (February 23) to approve the 2026/27 budget was no different as confusion mixed with anger and barbed commentary from all sides.
The debate heard from cabinet member for adult social care and public health Councillor Andrea Goddard, who attacked a Labour plan to spend £250,000 on a Marmot health data gathering project.
A fuming Councillor Goddard told Labour councillors: “This makes my blood boil, how can you entertain the Marmot? We already have our own data – you can smile but it’s a fact.”
Dudley’s Labour leader, Councillor Adam Aston, had to defend the Government after criticism of the amount of grant support for the council from Westminster.
Councillor Aston said: “The Labour government inherited an economy in tatters; less of a stable platform, more of a burning skip in a badly maintained Dudley Council car park.”
An amendment to the budget from the Liberal Democrats prioritising road resurfacing in wards represented by their councillors was also the target of ridicule. Councillor Aston described it as debating ‘potholes by postcode’.
Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Tromans was having none of it, saying: “If you are waiting for an apology from me or my colleagues, you will be waiting longer than it will take the tram to get to Brierley Hill.”
Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats also exchanged blows during the meeting.
After Lib Dem leader Councillor Ryan Priest highlighted council tax in Reform-run Worcestershire, Reform’s Councillor Shaun Keasey said: “It’s nice to see Reform living rent free in Councillor Priest’s head.”
Councillor Priest got his own back later by describing Reform as ‘tin pot patriots that perform for the cameras’.
Councillor Pete Lowe from the Black Country Party was frustrated by the amendment, which was sure to be accepted because the ruling Conservative group needed Lib Dem votes to get their budget approved.
Councillor Lowe said he supported some of the Lib Dem proposals and added: “I started off with this farcical contribution by saying we will be supporting it because why the hell not, that’s where democracy has got to in Dudley.”
