A SENIOR Tameside councillor has resigned from her seat as she is ‘fundamentally at odds’ with Labour.
Jacqueline North, who once held the post of first deputy when Cllr Gerald Cooney was leader, is stepping down from representing Longdendale.
And she did not hold back in how she sees the state of the ruling party.
As a result, a by-election will take place after the now former Cllr North said ‘no more.’
In a statement to her constituents, handed to The Correspondent, she said, adding she is ‘grateful’ for being elected for four years in May 2023: “In recent months, I have found myself fundamentally at odds with my political party on a number of fronts and I can see no prospect of that changing in the next two years.
“As a consequence, I do not believe I will be able to continue exercising the influence you deserve on Tameside Council, nor with the local MPs.
“I have therefore resigned from both the Labour Party and Tameside Council.
“It is likely that a by-election will be called in the coming weeks at which you can give voice to your views on the current local situation.
“If you are inconvenienced as a result of this I do sincerely apologise.
“It was a difficult decision but there is no good time to resign. I judged that on balance you would want a fresh election to give voice to your up-to-date opinions.
“On a practical level, if you have requested my help but the issues are still not resolved, Councillor Gary Ferguson has kindly volunteered to take these up for you.
“Finally, I can assure you that my great Longdendale Labour colleagues will endeavour to offer you an excellent candidate to vote for at a by-election.
“Regardless of your voting decision I wish you all the best for the future.”
The resignation of Cllr North, who will still be a volunteer at Hattersley’s Bread and Butter Thing, adds to the chaos that has engulfed Tameside’s Labour Party.
10 councillors, including Cllr Cooney, are currently suspended pending an investigation into the notorious Trigger Me Timbers WhatsApp group.
And current leader, Cllr Eleanor Wills, will face a motion of no confidence at an extraordinary meeting of the authority on Tuesday, March 4.