Councillor Makes Emotional Statement As Labour Party Prevent Her From Continuing To Stand After May Elections

I am very sorry to report that the Labour Party has prevented me from standing as a Labour county councillor for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook in the upcoming election this May.

I have numerous concerns regarding the process that led to this decision, but I can say the following:

1. Not a single concern has been raised with me by the Party about my five years as a councillor, during which I have worked tirelessly for the whole community, for the many individuals in need who come to me for support, and for the Labour Party.
2. It has been falsely claimed that I am “not supportive” of the current MP. Despite my best efforts to collaborate with him, he has refused to work or campaign alongside me. Instead, he has supported one of his staff members to become the Labour candidate for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook, rather than backing my candidacy.
3. I am deeply saddened that the Labour Party—an organisation I joined at the age of 18 and have dedicated 37 years of my life to, working hard for and representing—has chosen to support bullying behaviour instead of the inclusive teamwork and solidarity I have always valued in our party.
4. I will continue to serve as the county councillor for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook until the May elections, doing my utmost to serve everyone while I consider my options.

Serving as the county councillor for my home area has been an immense privilege. I have loved supporting the wonderful people and organisations that make up our community and striving to achieve the best outcomes for our area. I am proud of the many ways I have been able to contribute:

• Ensuring free school buses for Whaley Bridge and Chinley
• Securing the £2.3 million Safer Roads funding for Long Hill
• Supporting dozens of local groups with grants, volunteering, and publicity
• Recycling school uniforms every summer, assisting hundreds of local families at six schools
• Holding four surgeries every month in Whaley Bridge, Furness Vale, Chinley, and Buxworth
• Helping hundreds of local people who come to me for advice and support
• As deputy leader of the Derbyshire Labour Group since 2021 and lead member for both adult social care and children’s services, leading our campaigns against the closure of care homes, day centres, and children’s centres, and ensuring Whitestones and Eccles Fold Day Centres remained open
• Holding the Derbyshire Tories to account for their many failings

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has worked with me and supported me. I am honoured to have earned the votes of so many local people, and I have worked hard to uphold the trust you placed in me. I am equally grateful to the many wonderful Labour Party members and representatives who, like me, believe in teamwork and doing our best for local people. We have been a great team and won some important campaigns together.

I joined the Labour Party at the age of 18 because I believed in social justice and the fight against inequality. I still believe in these ideals, and I will continue to fight for them. I now need to consider how best to continue that fight.

Ruth George Councillor for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook