The Labour Party in Dudley has been dealt another blow after the shock resignation of a senior backbench councillor.

Cllr Stuart Turner announced on May 14 he is leaving the Labour group on the council because he is dissatisfied with the way it is being led.

Unlike recent councillors who have left stating they are unhappy with the national Labour Party, Cllr Turner is not resigning from the Labour Party.

Cllr Turner said: “I have not left the Labour Party itself and Keir Starmer and the Labour government still have my support.

“I am unable to support the new leadership. This comes as a result of what I see as the failure of the new leadership to make the tough decisions needed that would allow us to take the fight to the Tories and the other opposition groups.  

“It has become clear to me in recent days that the Dudley Labour Group is not a meritocracy, and the new leadership is not serious about improving on an overall disastrous performance as a group in the chamber last year, when our front bench was regularly outmanoeuvred, out thought and outplayed leading us to consistently fail in our task of holding the Tories to account.”

Cllr Turner, who represents the Gornal ward says he will sit as an independent and will not be joining any other political group.

In previous Labour administrations Cllr Turner held a number of top jobs including deputy leader, cabinet member for finance and cabinet member for health and wellbeing.

Dudley’s Labour leader, Cllr Adam Aston, said: “It is regretful that Cllr Turner has taken the decision to leave Dudley Labour Group, with the new group leadership only having been in place for a matter of weeks, I struggle to see how he has reached this conclusion. 

“Both I, my shadow cabinet and the wider Labour group will robustly hold to account the Conservative administration who have failed Dudley and its citizens for almost a decade.” 

Cllr Turner added: “I cannot in all conscience stand by and be compliant in this unfolding disaster. 

“My focus for the remainder of my term will continue to be on serving the great people of Gornal.”