Councillor quits Labour group in row over “underhand deals”

The Birmingham Post reports:

Claims that backbench Labour councillors are being overlooked by the leadership have been inflamed with the resignation of a rank and file councillor.

Longbridge councillor Ian Cruise announced he had left the party complaining he found the squabbling and underhand deals too much…

In his parting comments, Coun Cruise complained not for the first time about bickering, squabbling and stitch-ups, saying too many in the Labour group were interested only in their own advancement and securing paid jobs rather than a pure pursuit of political change.

He said on Twitter: “I don’t wish to be associated with a party condoning indiscipline, pettiness, underhand deals for power.”