Labour Councillor Quits

1.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Oct 2008

Parmjit Singh Gill said, "It's an issue of principle as to whether the leader of the council values the contribution a councillor makes, or whether he only values a councillor who is part of his group and who is whipped by him."

A Labour councillor has left the Council Labour group because she said the leadership made it difficult for councillors to speak their minds on issues. The now independent councillor told local press that other members of the party were unhappy and hinted more could follow.

The councillor in question was also removed as vice-chairman of the committee of the overview and scrutiny management board by a motion put down by the Labour leader of the Council. Leicester South Liberal Democrat PPC and Stoneygate councillor Parmjit Singh Gill said, "It's an issue of principle as to whether the leader of the council values the contribution a councillor makes, or whether he only values a councillor who is part of his group and who is whipped by him."

The motion was passed with the majority of Labour councillors voting in favour. Three Labour councillors did abstained.