Former Swindon Labour politicians have claimed that they were “silenced” by their party – which prompted their desertion this week.

Councillors Repi Begum and Tom Butcher announced on Tuesday, October 22 that they were joining another Labour defector, Councillor Ian Edwards, to form a group of three Greens in the council chamber.

And at a press conference alongside the national party leader Zack Polanski the two councillors said they would be more able to speak out freely on the issues that mattered to them rather than following a party line.

Cllr Begum said: “I have been challenging the opposition here in Swindon on issues such as  immigration, asylum-seekers and refugees, but have felt that I have had to keep my head down in my own party.”

The member for Lydiard & Freshbrook referred to recent new ruling  by the Labour government that migrants will need to speak English to ‘A’-level standard.

She said; “I do have an ‘A’-Level in English literature but I don’t think it’s necessary to be a citizen of the UK, and that’s the kind of thing Labour are talking about.

“The fact that I can stand here (as a Green) and talk about things that matter to us, where I feel we have been silenced by Labour.”

Cllr Butcher said: “We’ve been told even in the chamber to keep quite to keep  our heads down, not to speak out.”

Recommended Reading

The leader of the council and Labour group Councillor Jim Robbins said that maintaining a unified front was important, especially in office, and both in Swindon and nationally.

He said: “Change takes time, but change is happening in Swindon—and at a national level through government support. As leader, I sometimes have to make difficult decisions, but I always ask myself: what is best for the residents of Swindon?

“My door remains open to all councillors, and I’m proud that our team brings diverse perspectives to the table.

“Swindon residents know I’ve never been shy about sharing my views over the years or letting the rest of the group share theirs.

“However, I’ve also served as a councillor in opposition, where our focus on hope and protest ultimately led to our party’s worst general election result in a generation. That taught me an important lesson.

“As leader of the council, I will stay laser-focused on delivering the better Swindon that every resident deserves—a town they can be proud to call home”.