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Heysham councillor who quit Labour says he felt like 'black sheep' after voting against tax rise

Wednesday, 7 August 2024 10:52

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Councillor Philip Bradley

A Heysham councillor who resigned from the Labour party says he felt like the 'black sheep' after voting against a Council tax rise.

Councillor Philip Bradley quit Labour over the weekend to become an independent, meaning the Greens are now the largest political group on Lancaster City Council.

The local Labour group said Councillor Bradley had resigned while "under administrative suspension during an ongoing investigation into multiple concerns".

Councillor Bradley was elected for Labour in Heysham South in 2023.

He told Beyond Radio he'd had issues with "one or two Labour councillors".

In January, Councillor Bradley was the only councillor to vote against a Council tax rise for the Lancaster District.

He said he thought voting for a Council tax rise was "shocking" during a cost of living crisis.

All other councillors, across all parties, agreed to raise Lancaster City Council's share of Council tax by 2.99 per cent, the maximum allowable by the government without a referendum.

At the time, council leader Phillip Black said: "None of us want to be pushing up the Council tax burden on (residents). However there is no other way that we can meet the difficulties that we're facing in this budget without having to do some things that would be decidedly unpalatable."

Read more: Lone councillor who voted against Council tax rise says "I wanted to get up and walk out" - Beyond Radio

Speaking on Wednesday to Beyond Radio, Councillor Bradley said: "Ever since I voted against the Council tax rise, I feel like I've been the black sheep of the Labour group.

"I told them I am leaving the party and I got an email saying I was suspended.

"I whistleblowed on a serious offence, which was not a Labour party issue. The issue has been dealt with, with the organisation involved, with no further action being carried out and I'm happy with that."

He also said he'd been "chased down the stairs" and "shouted at" by a Labour colleague who he'd asked to leave him alone, after another council meeting at the town hall.

Councillor Bradley also praised the Labour councillors in Heysham South, saying they were doing a "fantastic job".

"I've had a lot of councillors contact me and ask me to carry on being a councillor, including Labour councillors, saying they want to continue working with me," he said.

A spokesperson for Labour said: "Councillor Philip Bradley has resigned from the Labour party while under administrative suspension during an ongoing investigation into multiple concerns - this would restart should he apply to rejoin the party.

"Councillor Bradley has chosen to continue on Lancaster City Council as an independent."

Beyond Radio understands that Councillor Bradley's suspension from Labour was not connected to his vote on the tax rise. 

Read more: Greens become largest political group on Lancaster City Council for first time ever - Beyond Radio

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