Independent councillors Paddy Brown & Seaton Ward Councillor Sue Little reportedly wish to be considered as part of the councils majority Conservative / Hartlepool Independent union political group.
Fri 16th December 2022 11:33am
Two councillors who've reportedly announced their intentions to join the majority coalition group on Hartlepool Borough Council have again sparked the debate over whether councillors should again be held subject to By-Elections in their respective wards following public anger over their decision to join another political group.
Although its claimed the two Hartlepool Ward councillors Paddy Brown & Sue Little haven’t officially relinquished their so called “independent” status altogether, its said both ward councillors have reportedly informed the local authority that they wish to be considered as part of the councils majority ruling Conservative / Independent Union Coalition group, bolstering the support the political faction has on the local council following fears of future potential gains by the Labour Party in next years local council elections that are now said to seriously threaten the stability of the alliance of councillors forming the majority political group.
Hartlepool's full council meeting typically held at the authorities civic chamber
A coalition of independent & Conservative councillors was formed in 2019, shortly after Labours monumental collapse of support which led to the end of Labours hold both on Hartlepool Borough Council & eventually leading to the loss of the Parliamentary Constituency Seat in May 2021 to Conservatives Jill Mortimer when Labours MP Mike Hill resigned in the wake of a sexual assault scandal.
Labours Cameron Sharp secured a comfortable win holding Labours seat in the Throston Ward just months ago following the resignation of Labours Amy Prince.....
However, its been claimed that recent By-Election victories by Labour is now reigniting lost support for the left wing extremist party that’s set to potentially see significant gains in the towns wards next year when the local borough council again puts a 3rd of its council seats up for election in May 2023.
Paddy Brown resigned as leader of the towns Labour Group in 2020, he then stood as an Independent councillor
Paddy Brown representing the towns Throston Ward was previously the leader of the towns Labour Group until December 2020, when its claimed the councillor stood down from the party following what he claimed was “bureaucracy is getting in the way of the town’s best interests”.
Infighting said to have been caused by Labours “extreme left” & its more centralists was said to have been the real cause of Cllr Browns departure following the party at that time then becoming embroiled in the centre of numerous allegations from a number of party members raised against Labours then procedures & party campaign coordinator Tom Cook, once a close ally to Mr Brown.
Seaton Ward Councillor Sue Littles decision to have closer ties with the councils majority ruling coalition group still remains a mystery
Cllr Sue Little’s move to align herself closer to the councils majority ruling coalition group still remains a mystery, however one member of the public claimed that the bid for the two councillors to align themselves more closely to the councils largest majority group may have something to do with the chairmanships or inclusion of those councillors to certain committees in a bid to “lock out” labour from any future decision making on the local council itself.
Former Independent councillor Ged Hall sparked a similar debate over councillors being forced to stand down when they cross to another political party when he joined Labour in May 2022
It didn’t take very long however for the Labour Party to take to social media when the news of Cllr Paddy Brown & Sue Littles intentions to seek closer alliances with the conservative group was allegedly revealed, with Labours dotting leader Cllr Brenda Harrison telling supporters that members of the public “should have their say” on councillors who change their political colours midway through their elected terms, completely forgetting that in May 2022, just months after being elected as an Independent for the areas Burn Valley Ward, Cllr Ged Hall, a former Labour party member himself announced he was to re-join the political group, with even Labours Leader Ms Harrison herself who represents the areas De-Bruce Ward publicly stating in a report published by the Hartlepool Mail that the door was open for other Independents should they wish to cross the political floor, with many saying Labours now spun so much hypocrisy, it seemingly can’t keep up with all its lies & half-truths & pinkie porkies its waffled out in the past, making the group look “desperate” in the process….
Extract of the report published by the Hartlepool Mail on the day Cllr Ged Hall joined the Labour Party
Its also claimed that Cllr Sue Little's decision to leave her colleague also ward councillor & independent councillor for Seaton Leisa Smith may have ignited a rift between the councillors following claims Cllr Leisa Smith spent no time announcing on her social media page about being a "true independent"
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