Latest news with #PeteLowe
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New political party launched in Black Country
A new "community-led" political party has been launched in Black Country Party was formed by six borough councillors who currently make up the Dudley Independent Group, known as 'the Diggers'. They said they will aim to focus on local issues that affect working class people in the area at its launch on Friday. The party includes councillors Karen Westwood, Steve Edwards, Matt Cook, Peter Drake, Karl Denning and Pete Lowe. Wards Lye and Stourbridge North, Brierley Hill and Wordsley South, Brockmoor and Pensnett, Castle and Priory, and Coseley will now be represented by the Black Country Party on Dudley elected leader is Lowe, with Westwood elected as deputy who resigned from the Labour Party in January after being a member for 41 years, said: "To say I am proud to launch The Black Country Party is an understatement. "We have six working class councillors who have had enough of a failed party system which puts Westminster and personal ambition before people. "We believe politics needs to change and ordinary people need to have their voices heard."Both councillors said they had previously left the Labour Party due to cuts to the winter fuel allowance and "removal of support for vulnerable people".Westwood said: "I knew we had to be the voice for local people and offer something different. That is why we are launching the Black Country Party."A joint statement from the councillors said the government should be investing in local communities. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour group leader resigns from party over cuts
The Labour group leader of a Conservative-run council has resigned from his party over huge changes to the benefits system and will sit as an independent member. Dudley councillor Pete Lowe said welfare cuts announced on Tuesday were "the final straw" after months of heart-searching and tears. He said he objected to the "stigmatisation of the most vulnerable" including the Labour government's decisions over women's pensions and cuts to pensioners' winter fuel payments. A Labour spokeswoman said the party inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives and would deliver a social security system fit for the future. Dudley Council was left under no overall control after last year's local elections but is run by the Conservative group with Tory councillor Patrick Harley as leader, following a deal struck after the vote. Lowe said he resigned from his position, as leader of the Dudley Labour Group and had left the party after he being a member for 41 years. "I always believed I could better serve my community from within the Labour Party. I no longer believe that is the case," he said. He said he would sit as an independent alongside two other councillors who he said had also spoken out against Labour - Steve Edwards and Karen Westwood. Lowe said he would look at "all options that give the people of Dudley a real voice and alternative". "One founded on anti-austerity, tolerance and inclusion, a voice for the people of our community - one free from the constraints of Westminster," he added. After Lowe wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a West Midlands Labour spokesperson said: "It is disappointing councillor Lowe has taken this decision. "Labour inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives which risked a generation of young people being written off and millions of people who want to work not getting the support they need. "Labour will deliver a social security system that is fit for the future." By Anna Whittaker, BBC Political Rreporter, Black Country In another blow to Dudley's Labour Group, Pete Lowe has raised his head above the parapet to criticise the government. Resigning from the party he has served for 41 years is certainly a statement. Dudley councillor Andrew Tromans quit the party in September to sit as a Liberal Democrat as he said the general election result had turned into a "bleak vision of continuity austerity". With Lowe the latest to quit, Dudley Labour is reduced to 29 councillors while the Conservatives have 35. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Benefits crackdown unveiled with aim to save £5bn a year by 2030 Council remains Conservative-led after deal struck Tories lose control of Dudley council Labour Party Dudley Council
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dudley Labour group leader resigns from party over benefit cuts
The Labour group leader of a Conservative-run council has resigned from his party over huge changes to the benefits system and will sit as an independent councillor Pete Lowe said welfare cuts announced on Tuesday were "the final straw" after months of heart-searching and said he objected to the "stigmatisation of the most vulnerable" including the Labour government's decisions over women's pensions and cuts to pensioners' winter fuel payments.A Labour spokeswoman said the party inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives and would deliver a social security system fit for the future. Dudley Council was left under no overall control after last year's local elections but is run by the Conservative group with Tory councillor Patrick Harley as leader, following a deal struck after the vote. Lowe said he resigned from his position, as leader of the Dudley Labour Group and had left the party after he being a member for 41 years."I always believed I could better serve my community from within the Labour Party. I no longer believe that is the case," he said he would sit as an independent alongside two other councillors who he said had also spoken out against Labour - Steve Edwards and Karen said he would look at "all options that give the people of Dudley a real voice and alternative"."One founded on anti-austerity, tolerance and inclusion, a voice for the people of our community - one free from the constraints of Westminster," he added. After Lowe wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a West Midlands Labour spokesperson said: "It is disappointing councillor Lowe has taken this decision."Labour inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives which risked a generation of young people being written off and millions of people who want to work not getting the support they need."Labour will deliver a social security system that is fit for the future." Analysis By Anna Whittaker, BBC Political Rreporter, Black CountryIn another blow to Dudley's Labour Group, Pete Lowe has raised his head above the parapet to criticise the from the party he has served for 41 years is certainly a councillor Andrew Tromans quit the party in September to sit as a Liberal Democrat as he said the general election result had turned into a "bleak vision of continuity austerity".With Lowe the latest to quit, Dudley Labour is reduced to 29 councillors while the Conservatives have 35. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
