City’s Labour defections show how ‘divisions have boiled over’

GROUP SAYS IT CAN’T SUPPORT PARTY THAT HAS ‘ABANDONED TRADITIONAL VALUES

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

Five of the six founding members of the Nottingham People's Alliance. From left: Anwar Khan, Faith Gakanje-Ajala, Kirsty Jones, AJ Matsiko and Imran Jalil

A NUMBER of defections from Nottingham’'s ruling Labour Party to form a new opposition group show “divisions have boiled over’, a councillor says.

Five city councillors resigned from the Labour Party to form the new Nottingham People’s Alliance group on Thursday.

Councillors Kirsty L Jones (Mapperley), Imran Jalil (Lenton and Wollaton East), Anwar Khan (St Ann’s), Naim Saqab Salim (Hyson Green and Arboretum), and Faith Gakanje-Ajala (Bilborough) have quit to form the new group.

A sixth independent councillor, AJ Matsiko (Sherwood), has also joined the new group, having already resigned from the Labour Group in April. He had been suspended after posting a statement on social media alleging party officials had engaged in “unacceptable” behaviour at a local group meeting earlier this year.

Labour's grip on the council, which began in 1988 before solidifying in 1991, has loosened. While maintaining a majority, only 43 Labour councillors of a total of 55 seats now remain on the council.

The formation of the new group also means the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group are no longer the official opposition.

Four councillors who formed the group will no longer be entitled to additional allowances as a result.