Labour loses control of Cheshire council after councillors resign
The decision means Labour have 35 seats on the council and the Conservatives have 22 seats. Eight councillors are independent, while the Green Party and Reform have two councillors each and there is one Liberal Democrat.Louise Gittins, the Labour leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: "Labour is a movement built on solidarity, service, and the belief that we achieve more together than alone."Whilst it's sad to see Elizabeth and Jimmy go, the Cheshire West Labour Group remains strong and united in our purpose."
'Tough decisions'
MacGlashan said she left the party "with a heavy heart" as it had become a party she does not recognise any more.She said: "It's a party that no longer represents the working class or most vulnerable in our society."I am sad to leave the party I have always supported but also looking forward to being an unaligned, independent councillor, with the freedom to speak out and vote with my conscience."Jimmy Shannon said he felt he had been prevented from speaking on behalf of disabled residents during a recent council motion, and that led to his resignation."This Labour government has doubled down on Tory-style austerity," he said."The party I joined no longer exists. It belongs to Keir Starmer, not the people. His tough decisions fall on ordinary families, not the ultra-wealthy."
Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
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