In a significant blow to Plymouth's Labour group, two councillors have quit the party in a single day, choosing to continue their roles as independents.
Southway Councillor Steps Away
Councillor Carol Ney of Southway announced her departure from the Labour Party this afternoon, becoming the second Labour representative to resign today.
In a brief statement, Councillor Ney said:
"As of 3pm today I am no longer a Labour councillor, but will continue as an independent Southway councillor, working hard on your behalf. Thank you for your continued support."
While Councillor Ney has not publicly detailed her reasons for leaving the party, her resignation comes just hours after another high-profile departure from Plymouth's Labour group.
Trans Rights Cited in Earlier Resignation
Earlier today, Councillor Dylan Tippetts, Plymouth's first transgender councillor, also resigned from the Labour Party.
In his resignation statement, Tippetts said:
"The Labour Party nationally has thrown transgender people under the bus and has taken us backwards decades. Everyone deserves the right to live peacefully, and the Labour Party continues to deny transgender people that basic right."
Tippetts, who represents Compton Ward, has also stepped down as Chair of the Taxi Licensing Committee. He has confirmed he will serve the remainder of his term as an unaffiliated independent councillor but will not seek re-election next year.
Politics Desk
His departure follows what supporters describe as years of rising concern from LGBTQ+ members about Labour's shifting position on trans rights under Keir Starmer's leadership.
Pattern of Diversity Concerns
These resignations continue a troubling pattern for Plymouth Labour regarding diversity and inclusion. Notably, Chaz Singh previously resigned from the Labour Party after raising serious concerns about diversity issues within the local party structure and reporting racist experiences during his time as a Labour councillor. Singh initially served as an independent following his departure from Labour but is no longer a councillor.
Singh, a practicing Sikh, had been vocal about what he described as structural problems within Plymouth Labour regarding the treatment of ethnic minority members. His departure raised significant questions about the party's commitment to diversity that appear to remain unresolved with these latest resignations.
Mounting Pressure
The dual resignations today raise broader concerns about diversity within Plymouth's Labour group. Critics point out that with the departures of figures like Ney, Tippetts, and previously Singh (while he was a councillor), Labour's local leadership is facing questions about whether it truly reflects the communities it serves.
These departures come at a challenging time for the Labour Party nationally, following disappointing performances in recent local elections across many parts of the UK. While Plymouth itself did not hold local elections this year due to being in a "fallow year" in the electoral cycle, the party has faced setbacks in numerous other councils where voting did take place.
Local Labour leaders have not yet commented on either resignation. The party now faces increasing pressure to address concerns from diverse members it once pledged to champion, while council officials have yet to comment on how these departures might affect the balance of power within Plymouth City Council.
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