Cabinet member hits back after accusations

A leading Dudley councillor has spoken out to squash online allegations he was not being honest about his past.

Cllr Damian Corfield says claims he faked being a military veteran and gaining high level qualifications are unfounded.

The Conservative council cabinet member and Dudley armed forces champion has been the subject of repeated attacks on social media which were sparked by an image of him wearing military medals at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war.

In an exclusive interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Corfield said: “I have got my grandfather’s medals from the Second World War and also my cousin’s campaign medal from the Falklands.

“I wore them at the 40th anniversary, naively I did not understand the protocol and pinned my cousin’s medal on the left. A veteran quickly corrected me, the left is only for those that have served.

“I was put right and made an apology, they recognised it was an honest mistake. I have never purported to be a veteran or have served in the military.”

Cllr Corfield, has also been accused of not having professional qualifications from a 35-year career in transport and logistics.

The Sedgley councillor, who is cabinet member for neighbourhoods and has previously been cabinet member for highways and environmental services, has a range of qualifications relating to vehicle testing and maintenance.

He also has a bachelor’s degree in business administration awarded by the Open University in 2000 and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering awarded in 2005, also from the Open University.

He said: “Apparently, at a scrutiny committee, I commented ‘in my professional opinion’.

“From that, unfounded accusations have been raised on social media about whether I would be qualified to make the statement ‘in my professional opinion’”.

“I gave my opinion as a professional in road transport and mechanical engineering, as a cabinet member you don’t have to be qualified in the area you are responsible for.

“Any decisions are made in conjunction with group directors and engineers that are fully qualified.

“I started at the bottom and worked my way up to director level. My experience gives me a good insight, I could give you a professional opinion in many areas of council services.” 

Initially, Cllr Corfield did not answer the questions about his past, he said: “I didn’t feel the need to prove my credibility or successful career.”

The allegations continued and began to affect Cllr Corfield and his family, who were also coping with the tragic death of their 19-year-old son Ben after he was hit by a car in 2022.

Cllr Corfield said: “It is below the belt when people make accusations in public like this, it gives an air of doubt to your character and background.

“It caused me a great deal of stress; as a politician we are open to scrutiny and I am happy to be scrutinised on any decision-making process but when you go across the line and try to discredit somebody personally with unfounded accusations it is beyond comprehension.”

The driver of the car that hit Ben appealed his 13-and-a-half year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and the case only concluded in July 2025.

Cllr Corfield said: “Everybody is human and there is only so much you can take and not be able to bounce back. It is important now that I draw a line under this unnecessary attack and continue to support my family.”