Blackburn with Darwen – Councillor quits Labour
Ewood ward’s Cllr Elaine Whittingham will now be an Independent
Councillor Elaine Whittingham of Blackburn's Ewood ward has left the Labour party after expressing concerns about the political environment.
She plans to serve as an Independent councillor after her resignation from Blackburn with Darwen Council's Labour leader, Cllr Phil Riley.
Cllr Whittingham, who was elected in May 2022, described her decision to resign from the Labour Party as challenging but necessary after months of contemplation.
"This has not been an easy decision and has been in discussion for many months," Cllr Whittingham said in her resignation letter.
In her letter, she highlighted her commitment to the values that initially motivated her: fairness, equality, and social justice.
"Labour’s values of fairness, equality, and social justice first inspired me to stand for election, and those values still guide me today and will continue to do so," she said.
Cllr Whittingham also addressed the issue of 'external targeted bullying' and a political climate she describes as increasingly toxic and divisive.
“National politics has become increasingly toxic, largely driven by point-scoring, outrage, and division rather than practical solutions,” she said, adding, “That is not politics; that is bullying.”
She expressed her intention to serve the Ewood community first, free from the constraints of any party politics, while still collaborating with colleagues when beneficial for her constituents.
“As an Independent councillor, I will be free to put our community first in every vote and every decision," Cllr Whittingham said. "My loyalty will be to the people of Ewood, not to a party or a national narrative.”
Cllr Riley acknowledged the situation, particularly the abuse Cllr Whittingham faced on social media, which he noted is a growing concern within the democratic process.
“We are really disappointed because Elaine is a really good councillor who cares deeply about the residents of her ward," Cllr Riley said.
"But it reflects the fact that she has taken a huge amount of abuse on social media, and this is a real concern for the democratic process in particular, where women are concerned.”