Councillor walks out on Labour Party Relationship breaks down over budget
A Wishaw councillor claims she had no option but to resign from the Labour Party after being told that her belongings had been removed from her office for her own“safety”.
Angela Feeney, who was a Labour councillor for the Wishaw ward, tendered her resignation after she faced a disciplinary hearing for refusing to vote in favour of North Lanarkshire’s budget last month.
The councillor was recently summoned to a meeting of Scottish Labour’s Disputes Panel, where it was decided that she had breached party rules.
She was handed a written warning, which was to remain in place for a year, for failing to support the Labour Group’s position.
Councillor Feeney took the decision to leave the party, claiming on social media that her computer and personal belongings had been removed from her office.
She admits to feeling a sense of relief that she is now out of an environment which she describes as “toxic”.
Speaking to the Wishaw Press, she said: “After I abstained, my belongings were removed from my desk. That’s not following due process.
“I contacted the Labour Party and asked the general secretary to have them moved back in, but they didn’t.
“I understood there would be disciplinary action but I didn’t expect this.”
Ms Feeney, an NHS frontline worker who describes herself as a life-long socialist and trade unionist, will continue her work as an independent councillor.
She also claims that, long before the budget vote and subsequent disciplinary hearing, she made complaints about bullying within the party.
“For the past three years I’d been bringing up that there was bullying going on, but no one took me up on it,” she said.
“The hearing went as I expected as I had broke against the whip. But I was disappointed, they acknowledged the allegations of bullying but I resigned because a letter that was then sent out made no comment of it. I really had no other option.”
Following the recent vote she labelled the budget a “vicious attack on the most marginalised and needy” and claimed she couldn’t support it after being elected on a “platform of no cuts”.
The councillor’s decision to resign from the party was greeted with a mixed response.
An unnamed local Labour Party member said it was a “relief”, claiming “Angela’s divisive nature has decimated our local party”.
In response Cllr Feeney, said: “I’ve had fantastic support from other party members.
“I’m a socialist and I chapped doors in December and told constituents that I stand for no cuts and I’m against austerity.
“I kept to my word, so if they want to call me divisive over that then that’s fine.
“I’ll continue to do what I do and speak up for public sector workers and fight cuts, that’s what I was elected to do.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “It is a matter of regret Angela has decided to resign.
“We thank her for her service to the Labour Party as an activist, candidate and councillor.
“There is no place in the Labour Party or any other part of society for bullying and harassment. All reports are taken seriously and investigated.”