Bishop Auckland Town Councillors were left in shock by an announcement by the Town Mayor at a meeting held on Tuesday 20th January.
Cllr Colin Race, a life-long Labour voter, revealed his decision to leave the party, stating year-on-year it had become “increasingly clear” Labour was “neglecting voters”.
He has now decided to represent UKIP, declaring that it is the only party that supports “hard-working families”.
Mr Race said, “The Labour Party that I once knew – the party that stuck up for the working families – is no more.
“We have a cosy consensus of politicians in Westminster who spend more time patting each other on the back than representing the people who pay their wages at the end of the month.
“Here in the North East we have the highest rates of unemployment in the country, how are my kids meant to get a job when our political class support open-door mass immigration from 27 other EU member states?”
The Bishop Auckland Labour group of the council stated that they were ‘very disappointed’ and ‘let down’, as they elected Mr Race as mayor.
A representative of the party commented, “The people who voted for him must also feel betrayed. Mr Race was not selected to stand as a County Councillor for the Labour Party as he lacked experience so there may be an element of personal frustration.
“He only became a Labour Party member in 2011 and was elected as a town councillor in 2013.
“In light of the attendance at the council meeting of 18 UKIP members last night, there is a fear that UKIP will use Mr Race’s position of Mayor of Bishop Auckland to promote their own dubious policies which are opposed by the council.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
Congratulations Cllr Race on seeing sense and leaving the Labour party.
A party that has failed and taken the electorate for granted for decades in Bishop Auckland.
It is an obvious two horse race between UKIP and Labour in May for Bishop Auckland.
What saddens me is that the local Labour group has resorted to unfounded mudslinging and the spitting out of dummies. In particular, Cllr Golightly.
if the Labour led councils of Bishop Auckland and County Durham represented the electorate then good, wise, strong men such as Mayor Race would not be defecting. Labour have let this town down by taking it for granted.