Ex-Labour members to disrupt 'national agenda'

A NEW political party has been launched in Dudley in a bid to disrupt a system it claims is dominated by the national agenda.

- MARTYN SMYTH Local Democracy Reporter

The Black Country Party has been formed by six borough councillors who currently make up the Dudley Independent Group, known as 'the Diggers'.

By forming the new party, led by former Labour group leader, Cllr Pete Lowe, the councillors believe they can take their community-based politics out of the council chamber and onto the streets.

Cllr Lowe, who quit the Labour Party after 41 years, said: "We aim to reach out to the tens of thousands of people who think the political system is broken and more interested in Westminster party politics.

"We are going to put party politics to one side, we will be a voice for the alternative.

"If it is radical to believe we should be on the side of working class people then The Black Country Party is proud to be radical."