A Bristol councillor who quit the Labour group with a scathing attack on the party has joined the Greens instead.
Jo Sergeant, councillor for Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston, has announced she will stand in May’s local elections as a member of the Green Party.
Cllr Sergeant resigned from the Labour group earlier this month, after voting in February against its intention to freeze council rents, a controversial issue which split the group in the weeks before it was passed by full council as part of next year's budget.
In a public resignation statement, she claimed the party was “beset with a culture of fear and bullying”, making particular reference to elected mayor Marvin Rees and Bristol Labour Group leader Marg Hickman.
Cllr Sergeant alleged the party was “focused on power for power’s sake” that the current leadership was ignoring the “basic norms of democracy and accountability”.
Her claims were dismissed as a “personal vendetta” by the mayor’s office.
Commenting on her decision to join the Green Party today (March 23), Cllr Sergeant said: “I’ve been honoured and privileged to represent the residents of Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward for the last five years and I fully intended to stand again this May.
“Unfortunately, I can no longer do this as a Labour candidate, as I feel the party has moved away from the values I continue to hold.
“As a Green Party councillor and candidate, I will be free to stand up for my values and for the residents of my ward, without a party whip trying to make me toe the line.
“I am greatly looking forward to being a part of a much more collaborative and friendly political environment.”
Councillors belonging to the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups on Bristol City Council almost always vote along party lines, and it is the party whip’s job to ensure this happens.
The Green group has no party whip and councillors are free to vote according to their conscience.
Cllr Eleanor Combley, leader of Bristol’s Green group, said: “As a hard-working, principled councillor, Jo is a natural fit for the Green group and I am delighted that she has decided to join us.
“She cares deeply about the communities she represents and works tirelessly to represent their interests.
“I will be doing everything I can to support her campaign, and hope others that are feeling disillusioned with the current administration can find a home with the Green party.”
One of the current Green candidates for Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston, Simeon Roswell, will be standing aside for Cllr Sergeant, Cllr Combley said.
The local elections are due to take place on May 6.
