Plymouth Labour has suffered its third defection in less than a week as Councillor Zoe Reilly, Chair of the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel, has resigned from the party to sit as an Independent.
The Honicknowle ward councillor's departure follows the resignations of Carol Ney and Dylan Tippetts, who both left Labour earlier this week in a dramatic exodus that has shaken the party's grip on Plymouth City Council.
Reilly's defection is particularly significant given her prominent role chairing the scrutiny panel responsible for overseeing children's services, education, and family support - a key area of council responsibility.
She is also known as a strong supporter and advocate for tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), making her departure a potential loss for Labour's stance on these critical issues.
The timing of her departure, coming just days after two other Labour councillors walked away, raises serious questions about internal tensions within the Labour group and adds to speculation about further potential defections.
This latest resignation brings the total number of Independent councillors to nine, making them an increasingly powerful bloc in the council chamber. Labour now faces the prospect of governing with a significantly weakened position, having lost three councillors in rapid succession.
Reilly's decision to leave Labour comes at a critical time for Plymouth, with the city preparing for a referendum on July 17th about whether to adopt a directly elected mayor system. Her position on the referendum remains unclear, though her departure from Labour - which opposes the change - may signal a shift in her political thinking.
The pattern of defections across party lines has been striking. Six former Conservatives and now three former Labour councillors have chosen to sit as Independents, suggesting deep-rooted problems with party politics in Plymouth that transcend traditional political divisions.
For the children and families services that Reilly oversees, as well as her advocacy work on violence against women and girls, her departure from Labour raises questions about potential changes in approach or priorities, though she will continue in her scrutiny role as an Independent councillor.
Plymouth Plus has reached out to Councillor Reilly for comment about her reasons for leaving Labour and her future plans as an Independent representative for Honicknowle.
Labour group leader Tudor Evans has yet to respond to this latest blow to his party's strength, which comes as the party faces mounting pressure over its opposition to democratic reform in the city.
As Plymouth's political landscape continues to shift dramatically, residents are left wondering whether this wave of defections signals a fundamental realignment of local politics - and whether more councillors will follow suit in the coming days.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
