BREAKAWAY Doncaster councillor Stuart Exelby has attended his first meeting as Mayor Martin Winter's 'Labour Group' leader - despite a warning from the national Labour party.
The Labour Party's official leader on the council Joe Blackham walked out after Coun Exelby's arrival because he refused to take part in a meeting with him.
Coun Exelby and Mr Winter are two of a gang of three of Doncaster's most powerful politici
ans who have registered with Doncaster Council as members of a new party called The Labour Group in a split from Labour.
Their defection, revealed by The Star on Saturday, effectively means the national Labour party has lost control of two Mayors in a month, following Ken Livingstone's London defeat.
Coun Eva Hughes is the third member of the new group which has left the national Labour party furious and prompted a letter warning the three to toe the line. Both she and Coun Exelby have been members of Mr Winter's cabinet.
Coun Exelby attended yesterday's council group leader's meeting as leader of the Labour Group - despite a warning from the party.
Party bosses told the Mansion House three they face expulsion from Labour if they remain as an independent group.
Coun Joe Blackham told The Star: "Having asked Coun Exelby on what basis he was attending the meeting, I decided to leave.
"I wasn't prepared to share a meeting with someone purporting to represent either the Labour Group or the new party."
Coun Exelby said: "I attended the meeting and that was that.
"I'm registered as a group leader and I walked in and Coun Blackham walked out - I've really no more to say."
Coun Mick Jameson, chairman of the official Labour group on the council, said the three rebels had until the May 23 to change their minds.
He said: "Mr Exelby has, under council rules, every right to become the leader of a new group if he so desires. If the three of them are determined to do it then they can go ahead. Without seeing what happens on May 23 I've got no further comment at this time."
Roy Kennedy, national director of finance and compliance for the Labour party, released a statement over the weekend saying the party had given all three 14 days to re-register as members of Labour or be excluded from the party.
READ MOREMore Doncaster newsMain news indexThe full article contains 406 words and appears in Doncaster Star newspaper.
