A VETERAN Labour politician has who took a post in Hyndburn Council’s new ‘Rainbow’ cabinet has been suspended from the party group.
Earlier this month Councillor Joyce Plummer accepted the borough’s Independent leader Cllr Miles Parkinson’s offer of her old job of resources boss.
Hyndburn Labour group has now suspended her from its ranks.
She now faces further disciplinary action by the party which could lead to her expulsion.
Her suspension reduces the Hyndburn Council Labour group to 13 against 14 Tories.
There are now seven Independents led by Cllr Parkinson, who quit the Labour party earlier this year but refused to relinquish his role as council leader or resign after quitting the party he was elected to represent.
There is one vacancy on Great Harwood's Overton ward following the resignation of veteran Labour politician Michael Hindley, after being cautioned by the police and suspended by Labour over an altercation during a council meeting.
The by-election for the ward has now been called for Thursday, July 14.
It is likely to be a neck-and-neck contest, and the candidates for July 14 ballot are Conservative Liz McGinley, Labour's Colin McKenzie, Independent Michael Miller (a former Tory who quit the party last week over Boris Johnson's "lies" and lost his seat at May's council elections), and for Reform UK - formerly the Brexit Party - Richard Oakley.
Cllr Plummer's suspension is the latest twist in the disintegration of Labour in Hyndburn which has seen several senior figures quit the party, most dramatically Cllr Parkinson who resigned in March describing it "unpleasant, bullying and vindictive".
May's annual council meeting was confirmed him as borough leader with the support of Conservative and fellow Independent councillors.
He offered Cllr Plummer and new Labour group leader Cllr Munsif Dad posts in his new all-party cabinet.
Cllr Dad declined saying the borough needed a strong opposition.
Cllr Parkinson described Cllr Plummer's suspension as "astonishing", adding: "It is very regrettable. She has done a great job."
A Hyndburn Labour group statement said: “The group was informed a few weeks ago that Cllr Joyce Plummer has agreed to accept a position within the cabinet of Miles Parkinson’s coalition.
"This was contrary to both the leader and the Labour group's agreed position.
"Cllr Plummer has been unwilling to reconsider this course of action.
"Therefore the Labour group voted unanimously to remove the whip for an indefinite period of time.
"The decision was not an easy one to arrive at and has caused a significant amount of distress but we were left with no option.
"We call on Cllr Plummer to resign her seat, so that residents may have their say."
Cllr Plummer declined to comment.
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