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Labour councillors quit party to go independent

Amy HolmesBedfordshire political reporter
Martin Giles/BBC Luton Council Headquarters in Luton. It's a greyish white building. It has a neoclassical style with art deco detailing and the sky is blue behind it aside from one greyish cloud.Martin Giles/BBC
Luton Borough Council has been run by the Labour party since 2007, but the resignation of six councillors means they no longer have enough for a majority

Six Labour councillors in Luton have quit the party in a move which could leave the authority under no overall control for the first time in 19 years.

They include former deputy leader Javed Hussain and Tom Shaw who has been a Labour councillor for 42 years.

In a statement they said: "Our opinion is that control of the Labour group is with the Eastern region Labour party, so we have formed a group that will concentrate on the people of Luton and give back the democracy to them."

A Luton Labour spokesperson said: "We are deeply disappointed they have chosen to resign but hope we will continue to be able to work together to deliver the stronger, safer Luton our communities deserve."

Amy Holmes/BBC Rob Roche, is standing in the main chamber at Luton Borough Council. He is wearing a beige jumper and is stood in front of a number of red seats.Amy Holmes/BBC
Rob Roche is one of the councillors who has quit Labour claiming decisions are no longer being made by locally elected councillors in Luton

The councillors added: "We have taken the decision to resign from the Labour group as we feel that, based on recent events, the Labour group of elected councillors' decision making on democracy has been taken away from the local elected Labour members and Luton residents."

Shaw was first elected in 1984 and was responsible for housing on the authority for many years, before being replaced by Rob Roche who has also quit the party.

In May Tahmina Saleem became the new council leader replacing Hazel Simmons after nearly 20 years in charge.

Hussain was appointed deputy to Simmons in late 2023, but was replaced when Saleem took over as leader, becoming the ceremonial Mayor for the town instead.

Amy Holmes/BBC Tahmina Saleem stands on steps beside large "LUTON 150" display letters in a sunny outdoor setting.Amy Holmes/BBC
Tahmina Saleem became the new leader of Luton Council two months ago, but one of her executive team is among the six that have quit the Labour party

Another to quit is Rumi Chowdhury, who was only appointed as portfolio holder for adult social care and public health in Saleem's first executive team in May 2026.

Yarun Begum and Rehana Malik, who have been councillors since 2023, have also stood down and the six councillors are now expected to form an independent alliance group which would leave Labour on 22 councillors, below the threshold of 25 needed for full control.

The authority has 48 councillors with the Liberal Democrats the official opposition with 14 councillors, while the Conservatives have three along with two independents and Reform UK gained its first councillor in April.

The next elections in Luton are scheduled for May 2027.

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