COUNCILLOR Ashley Monk has been suspended from Reform UK, just days after being elected to Redditch Borough.
Coun Monk, who sits on Batchley and Brockhill, claimed he withdrew his membership after being informed he was suspended from the party following criticism of new county council leader Coun Alan Amos.
This latest chaotic incident follows months of turmoil in Redditch, with county councillor David Taylor resigning on live TV and the leader of the council, Jo Monk, Coun Monk’s mum, being removed by her party and then being suspended.
Coun Ashley Monk is also on the county, representing Redditch West.
In a statement on social media he apologised to the residents who had ‘only just’ put their trust in him.
He said: “I know many people voted for me under the Reform banner, and I do not take that lightly. I wanted to stay with Reform. I was fighting for Reform’s values.
“My political views and values still align with Reform despite this latest move. These will not change. I believe in Brexit, I believe in stopping the boats, and I believe in saving our country, our county and our town.
“The reason I stood for office, and the reason I was elected, was to speak out whenever I saw bad things happening. I tried to do that within Reform, but instead of engaging with me I felt undermined and pushed out by Coun Alan Amos.”
“If criticising the conduct, views, or leadership of a senior figure leads to suspension, then that says far more about the party than it does about me.”
He will now be sitting as an independent councillor.
In response, Redditch Liberal Democrats have demanded that a by-election be called.
Spokesperson for Redditch Liberal Democrats Andrew Fieldsend-Roxborough says: “The situation is beyond ridiculous. Blink and you might just miss a sacking or a resignation.
“Redditch Reform UK councillors have been at each other’s throats for months. And now we have a recently elected councillor to Redditch Borough Council get kicked out of the party for not accepting the democratic votes of the party.
“This drama has to stop. Reform UK are not the solution to making our politics better.
“Rather than helping residents which it is their elected job to do, they are just spending time squabbling amongst themselves.
“If they can’t survive more than a few days in their party, they have to resign so we can elect people who can get on with the job.”
This means the makeup of Redditch Borough Council to 13 Labour, seven Reform, four Conservatives and three independent.
