Preston City Councillor Carol Henshaw, who is currently suspended by the Labour Party, has today (Monday 18 August) resigned from Labour and joined the Preston Independent network

Cllr Henshaw, who represents the City Centre ward, becomes the fourth elected councillor to represent the Preston Independent group, though she is the first Preston Independent on the City Council.

Cllr Henshaw was suspended by Labour for comments and questions asked 12 months ago in a private WhatsApp group about the horrific situation in Gaza. The slow running Labour investigation has meant that Cllr Henshaw has had the Labour whip removed since March. But she has sent a letter of resignation to the Labour Party nationally.

Cllr Henshaw said:

“I have a lot of friends in Preston Labour Party and I know that many of them have good aspirations for the city. But the problem is Labour nationally. Starmer and the Labour leadership are complicit in the Israeli crimes in Gaza and no amount of talk or local activities can cover that crime. I have also been horrified by Labour’s attacks on vulnerable people on benefits, on older people and their winter fuel allowances, their refusal to remove the 2 child benefit cap and their failure to implement a wealth tax. 

“I decided a while ago that I would leave Labour over these issues, and over their treatment of me, but I wanted to stay and fight the ludicrous claims of anti-Semitism labelled at me. But when Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announced the formation of a new party, I felt it was time to go. The Preston Independent network have been very welcoming. I will join them in the short-term and then, with them, I will join the new party when it is formally launched later in the year.”

Cllr Henshaw will become the fourth Preston Independent councillor to represent electors in the city. She joins county councillors Michael Lavalette, Almas Razakazi and Yousuf Motala. Although they sit on different councils (city and county) they are determined to work together to put ‘people and Preston first’.

County councillor Michael Lavalette said:

“We are delighted that Carol has joined us. The Preston Independent councillors on the city and county councils will work together for the benefit of ordinary people in Preston. I think the establishment parties take people and our communities for granted, it’s clear we need a new voice that puts people first and prioritises welfare over warfare.”

County councillor Almas Razakazi added:

“We hope that other, disgruntled Labour councillors will join us. Labour in power is disastrous for our communities and our people. The new party, forming under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, is a source of hope for all of us who want a better world, a fairer world, for our communities, our families and our children.”

County councillor Yousuf Motala added:

“I have worked in close collaboration with Carol for many years whilst we were both in Labour and since. I look forward to continuing our working relationship to fight for the interests of people in the City Centre Ward.”