Branding row for councillors who quit Labour

An independent group of councillors have expressed anger after a new party was formed by ex-Labour party members under a similar name.

On Thursday, 20 members of Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire, confirmed they had left Labour to form Broxtowe Independents.

Richard MacRae, leader of the Broxtowe Independent Group, said the new party's name was "not only misleading but undermines the integrity and clarity of political representation in our area".

A spokesperson for Broxtowe Independents said the name was "an accurate description of who we are, but that may change as we work on building our party and identity".

The 20 councillors, which include the authority's leader Milan Radulovic, claimed the Labour party had abandoned its traditional values and criticised policies such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners.

A local Labour spokesperson said the decision was "incredibly disappointing".

The Broxtowe Independent Group was officially established on 31 December by five councillors, but MacRae told the Local Democracy Reporting Service initial ideas for the group started in May 2023.

He said the group did not currently act as an official political party but had been formalised, meaning local election candidates could register with the group on the ballot papers.

MacRae said he believed Thursday's announcement was "causing unnecessary confusion" among residents, adding the group had "worked hard to build trust and recognition" under its chosen name.

He said: "We are currently working with the Electoral Commission to secure the official registration of our name, Broxtowe Independent Group, to protect it from misuse and to ensure that our identity remains distinct.

"Our members are united in their frustration and disappointment that such actions have been taken without consideration for the potential impact on residents and the broader political landscape of Broxtowe."

In response, Broxtowe Independents said: "We are obviously aware of the existing group of independents, with whom we are not affiliated.

"We believe more independent voices on the council can only be a positive for local residents and look forward to working with others where our principles align.

"We are focusing on how we can continue to deliver for our constituents and we're sure all independents in Broxtowe can work together for the benefit of all our residents."

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