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A ruling Labour Party has suddenly shrunk to a minority on a Kent council after members defected within a week.
Councillors Shehrazade Maria Mamjan and Charles Woodgate have quit Dover District Council’s (DDC) ruling group.
Both politicians cited disappointment with the national government as their reason for departure.
Speaking after defecting to the Conservative Party last Friday, Aylesham representative Cllr Woodgate, said: “I have become increasingly disillusioned with the national Labour party since the last election.
“Policies such as removing the winter fuel allowance from many older people, and adding a tax on learning have been particularly disappointing,” he said, referring to the addition of VAT to private school fees by the government.
“I’ve always been to the very right of the Labour Party anyway – and obviously now I'm very much on the left of the Conservative Party and there’s common ground between the two.”
The Labour member of more than 30 years told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) "disappointment with the Labour government” spurred his decision.
He said he bears “no ill will” towards the local Labour Party.
That defection pushed the council into ‘no overall control’ - meaning no one group has a majority of seats.
In the May 2023 election, Labour took 17 of the 32 seats, while the Conservatives took 14 and one went to an independent, ejecting the Tories from 20 years of leadership.
‘No overall control’ means the largest political grouping - whether an agreed coalition or single party - retains control.
With Cllr Woodgate’s move pushing Labour down to 16 seats, a second defection last night turned the party into a minority administration.
Cllr Shehrazade Maria Mamjan, also representing Aylesham, left Labour yesterday to go independent.
“The party’s values no longer align with my own and with the needs and expectations of the residents in my ward,” she said.
She also cited the government not calling for a ceasefire in Palestine and “demonising” pro-Palestinian demonstrators, as well as “issues like housing, erosion of rural green spaces by private developers and consideration for the disabled and elderly.”
Dover council leader Kevin Mills (Lab) said he was “sad and disappointed” by the resignations.
“[Cllr Woodgate] never formally told me that he intended to resign and I’ve had no discussion with him about it,” he said.
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, leader of the Conservative opposition on DDC, said: “The resignation of a second Labour councillor in just a week reflects a party mired in division, led by divisive personalities more focused on internal party squabbles than the best interests of our residents.”
Labour will remain in the cabinet but decisions requiring the full council’s approval will become harder.
Council chairmen - in Dover Cllr Gordon Cowan (Lab) - do not generally vote in meetings, but can exercise a ‘casting vote’ to break a deadlock, preventing ties.
With Labour having only 15 seats on DDC, to pass an all-council vote would require more than one independent or Tory to vote with them.