SOLIHULL’S Green Party – the borough’s official opposition to the ruling Conservative group – has been rocked by resignations from its councillors.
Last week Shirley West Councillor Dr Rosemary Sexton resigned from the party following what is believed to have been months of turmoil.
Coun Tim Hodgson for Shirley West told The Observer he resigned from the Green Party earlier this month.
Green Party chiefs are staying tight-lipped.
Both are now described as ‘independents’ on Solihull Borough Council’s website, where they have been joined by Coun Hodgson’s father, Coun Andy Hodgson.
Despite this the Greens remain the largest second party with 12 councillors while the Liberal Democrats have three.
Five borough councillors now class themselves as independent.
Coun Sexton directed the Observer to her Twitter account for a comment in which she said: “In my heart I’m still a Green; but trust is going to take time to rebuild.
“I know I’ve upset people with the way I went about things.
“I hope they’ll understand why I felt it was my only decent option, but I accept that some of those bridges may be beyond repair.”
Steve Caudwell, leader of Solihull Green Party, said: “We’re sorry to see Coun Sexton leave the Green group and wish her well while she sits as an Independent.”
A spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales refused to comment on what he described as a disciplinary case ‘while investigations are ongoing’.
Previously, Coun Tim Hodgson crossed the council floor from the Liberal Democrats to the Green Party.
He was elected as a Green Party member for Shirley West in 2014 and has since campaigned for a number of issues in the area including free parking in Shirley.
Sam Mather, chair of Solihull and Meriden Labour Party said: “These issues have been known about for some six or seven months and it is disappointing that no action was taken by the Green Party until Councillor Rosemary Sexton decided to act.
“What she did was incredibly brave and it achieved her intended outcome.
“I do not believe the Green Party are providing enough scrutiny of the council.
“Instead they are spinning like a Catherine Wheel over their own internal politics.”
