Ex-Labour councillors make switch to Green Party

4 hours ago

Amy Holmes,Bedfordshire political reporterand

Euan Duncan,Local Democracy reporter

Luton Council is now run by an administration made up of Lib Dems, Independent Alliance, Greens and Conservatives

Martin Giles/BBC Luton Council Headquarters in Luton. It's a greyish white building. It has a neoclassical style with art deco detailing and the sky is blue behind it aside from one greyish cloud. — Luton Council is now run by an administration made up of Lib Dems, Independent Alliance, Greens and Conservatives

Two Luton borough councillors who quit Labour to become part of an Independent Alliance Group have now joined the Green Party.

It means Yarun Begum and Rumi Chowdhury are the town's first Green councillors, although they will also remain part of that Independent Alliance.

A Green Party spokesperson said: "The move establishes Green representation on the local authority for the first time, during a period of major change in the council's political make-up."

The new leader of Luton Council, Lib Dem Amjid Ali said: "Under the coalition standing orders, each group has autonomy as to how they manage their own group. Their move bears no impact on the Lib Dem-led coalition."

Rumi Chowdhury is also now back in the executive on the authority as the member for women, equalities and community safety

Luton Borough Council A head-and-shoulders portrait of councillor Rumi Chowdhury wearing glasses, a bright red blazer and a black top, photographed against a light grey background. — Rumi Chowdhury is also now back in the executive on the authority as the member for women, equalities and community safety

Chowdhury has just been appointed to Ali's first cabinet, returning to the executive as the member responsible for women, equalities and community safety, having previously been a part of former Labour leader Tahmina Saleem's executive team.

In a joint statement, fellow former Labour councillor Yarun Begum said they'd joined the Greens because it offers a political home for people who want to put their communities before party machines

Luton Borough Council A head-and-shoulders studio portrait of a person wearing a bright coral headscarf and a dark textured top, photographed against a plain light-grey background. — In a joint statement, fellow former Labour councillor Yarun Begum said they'd joined the Greens because it offers a political home for people who want to put their communities before party machines

Both she and Begum were elected in May 2023 and in a joint statement said: "Our first responsibility is to the people we represent as councillors.

"We believe local representatives should be able to listen to their communities, speak up for them and stand by their principles, even when that's uncomfortable for those in power.

"We left the Labour Party because we believe it had moved away from those principles under the leadership of Keir Starmer, and we've not seen enough under Andy Burnham to convince us that the change needed is coming.

"But our decision is also about something bigger: where we believe the future of politics lies. We've joined the Green Party because it offers a political home for people who want to put their communities before party machines."

"We're proud that Luton will have two Green councillors for the first time. Our decision shows that Green politics can take root in communities that have too often been taken for granted, and that no town, ward or community should be considered out of reach," they added.

The administration on the authority now has councillors from the Lib Dem, Independent Alliance, Greens and Conservative groups, with Labour the official opposition plus there are three non-aligned Independents, and a Reform UK councillor.

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.

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