Tamworth Labour councillor resigns after feeling ‘betrayed’

Matthew McDermid resigns

TONIGHT a Labour Party member who sits on Tamworth Borough Council has resigned from the party due to feeling ‘betrayed’ by his fellow party members.

Cllr Matthew McDermid resigned from the Labour Party group at a full Council Meeting at Marmion House tonight, Tuesday 15 May.

Cllr McDermid who was elected as a Borough Councillor for the Castle Ward which covers the Town Centre in May 2012, will now see out his time as an Independent Councillor, with no ties to any political party.

It a statement which was read out at the meeting Cllr McDermid, who lives in Wilnecote, described how he has been let down and betrayed.

In the audio of the speech which was provided to Tamworth Informed, Cllr McDermid sounds shaken by his decision.

In the speech, Cllr McDermid said: “It is with great sadness that I make this statement, with just over three years as a Labour Councillor for Castle Ward.

“Today I resign my membership of the Labour Party.

“When you are betrayed by the people that you trust, in friends and colleagues in the labour party, just to get on politically. I feel that the labour party in Tamworth have betrayed the values that I hold.

“Some people have betrayed years of friendship, just to get in to the spotlight and further their political career.

“I recognise that some of my constituents in the Castle Ward will feel let down by my decision, but I pledge to them that I will work hard to help them all up until the next election in May 2016 to help them as an Independent Councillor.”

The resignation from the Labour Party by Cllr McDermid means that the Labour group now gold only 10 of the 30 seats on the Borough Council.

Listen to the full speech here:

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17 COMMENTS

  6. I have to applaud the strength of character to stand up and say what you believe no matter what party you stand for. It takes a lot of nerve to say what Matthew did, I do not know the reasons for his decision but all credit to him for standing firm and being true to himself.

  8. How is that sponsored by Conservative party Robert? It’s an important news article regarding out Borough Council. If you look back through our political archives, particularly around election time you will see we are pretty impartial and gave everyone the same chance. I think you should retract that comment.

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