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Councillor Draper has resigned from the Party
By
Kerry AshdownLocal Democracy Reporter
News
A councillor has resigned from the Labour Party – saying it has 'descended into the sewer' in recent years under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Stafford Borough councillor Rowan Draper, who has served the Littleworth ward for almost eight years, said he had attended 'heated party meetings where bullying is rife, along with sexism and intolerance'.
He has also raised concerns about anti-Semitism within the party.
Eight former Labour MPs have announced their own resignations from the party this week to join a new independent group, alongside three former Conservative MPs.
Councillor Draper, 34, who joined Labour as a student, announced he was resigning his party membership on Friday – just weeks before Stafford Borough Council elections are due to take place.
He was due to stand down as a Labour councillor at the Borough elections in May, having been unsuccessful in his application to stand as a Labour candidate.
Councillor Draper has yet to decide if he will re-stand for election in May however, as an independent candidate or by joining another political group.
Councillor Rowan Draper
He has thanked Stafford Borough Council’s Labour group leader Aidan Godfrey for his support, as well as Littleworth residents.
In 2016 he became Stafford Borough’s youngest ever deputy mayor and two years earlier he was shortlisted as one of the country’s Young Councillors of the Year.
In a letter to residents he said: "The people of Littleworth have elected me twice under a Labour banner and I owe them my gratitude and my deepest thanks for the opportunity and their trust to serve them over the last eight years.
"As their advocate I have argued for the protection of emergency services at Stafford Hospital, stood up for young people when the county council slashed youth services and worked consistently on the council to provide the rigorous scrutiny that any council leadership should welcome.
"Today, nearly a decade has passed since I took my first steps into political life and to my political home. When I joined the party, as a passionate student, I had a desire to change the world, like many who have joined the party since the 2015 General Election defeat.
"The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, along with the transformation of the party, has meant that the party has descended into the sewer. It is now a safe haven for anti-Semites.
"Attending heated party meetings, where bullying is rife, along with sexism and intolerance, has been my experience of the Labour Party for a number of years even before Jeremy Corbyn.
"I am deeply upset that I will no longer share the party banner of so many friends and colleagues who I have had the privilege of knowing and campaigning with to deliver a fairer society.
"I hope that whilst I won’t share the same rosette any longer I will continue to share the same Labour values that brought me into the party and serve as a councillor for eight years."
Councillor Godfrey wished Councillor Draper well for his future outside the Labour Party.
He said: "It is with regret I learn of Councillor Rowan Draper’s resignation from the Labour Party.
"As a result of his resignation he will no longer be a member of the Stafford Borough Council Labour Group.
"I have received a letter from Councillor Draper outlining his reasons for leaving the Labour Party. I have to say none of these reasons have any relevance to the Labour Group on Stafford Borough Council.
"Councillor Draper was due to stand down as a Labour councillor at the Borough elections in May, having been unsuccessful in his application to stand as a Labour candidate."
By
Kerry AshdownLocal Democracy Reporter
News
A councillor has resigned from the Labour Party – saying it has 'descended into the sewer' in recent years under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Stafford Borough councillor Rowan Draper, who has served the Littleworth ward for almost eight years, said he had attended 'heated party meetings where bullying is rife, along with sexism and intolerance'.
He has also raised concerns about anti-Semitism within the party.
Eight former Labour MPs have announced their own resignations from the party this week to join a new independent group, alongside three former Conservative MPs.
Councillor Draper, 34, who joined Labour as a student, announced he was resigning his party membership on Friday – just weeks before Stafford Borough Council elections are due to take place.
He was due to stand down as a Labour councillor at the Borough elections in May, having been unsuccessful in his application to stand as a Labour candidate.
Councillor Draper has yet to decide if he will re-stand for election in May however, as an independent candidate or by joining another political group.
Councillor Rowan Draper
He has thanked Stafford Borough Council’s Labour group leader Aidan Godfrey for his support, as well as Littleworth residents.
In 2016 he became Stafford Borough’s youngest ever deputy mayor and two years earlier he was shortlisted as one of the country’s Young Councillors of the Year.
In a letter to residents he said: "The people of Littleworth have elected me twice under a Labour banner and I owe them my gratitude and my deepest thanks for the opportunity and their trust to serve them over the last eight years.
"As their advocate I have argued for the protection of emergency services at Stafford Hospital, stood up for young people when the county council slashed youth services and worked consistently on the council to provide the rigorous scrutiny that any council leadership should welcome.
"Today, nearly a decade has passed since I took my first steps into political life and to my political home. When I joined the party, as a passionate student, I had a desire to change the world, like many who have joined the party since the 2015 General Election defeat.
"The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, along with the transformation of the party, has meant that the party has descended into the sewer. It is now a safe haven for anti-Semites.
"Attending heated party meetings, where bullying is rife, along with sexism and intolerance, has been my experience of the Labour Party for a number of years even before Jeremy Corbyn.
"I am deeply upset that I will no longer share the party banner of so many friends and colleagues who I have had the privilege of knowing and campaigning with to deliver a fairer society.
"I hope that whilst I won’t share the same rosette any longer I will continue to share the same Labour values that brought me into the party and serve as a councillor for eight years."
Councillor Godfrey wished Councillor Draper well for his future outside the Labour Party.
He said: "It is with regret I learn of Councillor Rowan Draper’s resignation from the Labour Party.
"As a result of his resignation he will no longer be a member of the Stafford Borough Council Labour Group.
"I have received a letter from Councillor Draper outlining his reasons for leaving the Labour Party. I have to say none of these reasons have any relevance to the Labour Group on Stafford Borough Council.
"Councillor Draper was due to stand down as a Labour councillor at the Borough elections in May, having been unsuccessful in his application to stand as a Labour candidate."
