A COUNCILLOR - whose resignation shocked party colleagues - has revealed why she left the Bolton Labour group.

Cllr Shamim Abdullah, who represents Rumworth ward, resigned two days ago, and has cited the controversy over the proposed Haslam Park school development as a deciding factor.

Her response has sparked a war of words with her former group leader, Cllr Nick Peel.

Shock for Bolton councillors as Labour member resigns

She told Conservative council leader Cllr Martyn Cox about her decision before her group leader, which shocked Labour colleagues.

She said in a statement: "I can confirm that as of yesterday evening I resigned as a councillor of Bolton Labour Group.

"I communicated my decision to the Borough Solicitor, the leader of the council and the chief whip of the Bolton Labour Group.

"There are a number of reasons why I felt compelled to leave the Bolton Labour Group but my main reason for doing so is the manner in which decisions are consistently made by the Labour leadership without consultation with the ward councillors on key decisions affecting their ward.

"There is little democracy when backbenchers are treated as voting fodder for the leadership group."

Cllr Abdullah had held the seat since 2016, when she won a by-election to replace her friend and mentor Rosa Kay.

She said: "Contrary to what Cllr Nick Peel has stated, I can confirm that the Rumworth ward councillors and Labour Group members were not consulted on the final wording of the Labour group budget amendment or key decisions, including communications with the media, relating to the Haslam Park school development.

"The Labour Group met on February 7 to discuss the Labour group budget amendment.

"What was actually submitted by Cllr Peel to full council was not discussed with the Labour group or the Rumworth ward councillors.

"The Rumworth ward councillors have worked tirelessly with council officers on the issue of the location of the Kings Academy School and have tried to identify suitable alternative brownfield sites, including the option of expanding existing school sites, but we were not consulted on the alternative sites proposed in the Labour budget amendment.

"Decisions are consistently made in this manner by the Labour leadership. I can no longer support this kind of arbitrary decision making when it has a negative impact on the residents of Bolton. "

The councillor will continue to serve her ward as an Independent councillor.

She added: "Since my resignation from the Labour Group, I have been contacted by a number of residents and fellow councillors of different political persuasions, including Labour, who have extended their support to me.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank these councillors and residents for their kind words and support."

Cllr Peel, Bolton Labour group leader, said: "The statement issued by Cllr Abdullah is devoid of any truth.

"She was fully consulted over our proposals to save Haslam Park, and made no objections at the time.

"She was present at the group meeting that finalised our final plan for the park and made no contribution to the discussion, despite me having a phone conversation with her just hours before.

"It speaks volumes that her statement is silent on whether or not she actually agreed with our proposals to save the park, so it’s now become quite obvious that her reason for leaving is that she did not agree with those proposals, but that is now an issue between her and her (residents)."