'Goal is to replace Labour with what we would call real Labour values'

NEW ALLIANCE PARTIES JOIN FORCES IN NOTTS

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new Nottingham People’s Alliance group.

That group, on Nottingham City Council, formed in October, also with defectors from Labour.

Both groups say they could merge under a new expanded city authority.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Councillor Cullen said: “If we have to become the ‘Nottingham Alliance’ or the ‘Expanded City Alliance; Broxtowe as an area will still exist... the important thing is the ‘alliance’ bit — everybody working together.

“It’s important to counter the narrative that these little parties will fizzle out.

“Every political party in the country started out with a group of people wanting to do something.”

Councillor Cullen says that some of the reasoning behind the group stepping away from Labour was the “slow increase in control” of being told when they could meet and what they could discuss.

She said: “We had emails from Labour centrally saying we couldn't discuss big issues like the Israel and Gaza [conflict] - this is not the Labour Party anymore. It's supposed to be about the people”

Echoing Councillor’s Cullen's concerns, Kirsty Jones, leader of Nottingham People’s Alliance at the city council,said: “Politicians end up being very obedient to Westminster parties rather than meeting the residents’ needs.