Councillor suspended by Labour Party (From Free Press Series)

Councillor suspended by Labour Party

A LEADING local councillor has vowed to continue to be a Labour supporter despite being suspended from the party.

Monmouthshire county councillor Graham Powell has been prevented from standing as a Labour Party candidate for the Severnside Ward, Caldicot, in the next local government elections.

The Labour Party office in Wales say Cllr Powell has been suspended from the party pending the outcome of criminal investigations against him.

This has taken him past the selection process for local election candidates.

Cllr Powell, however, says he planned to stand down in the June elections anyway and bring to an end 55-years of service as a local councillor.

But he has vowed to continue being a Labour Party member, saying he cannot be thrown out of the party.

He said: "They cannot kick me out. I have done 55 years, what's the matter with that.

"I am not going to go out like they think I am. They will not be able to throw stones on my coffin yet.

"I am suspended, but that means nothing. I am suspended as I am at the present time, but nothing more than that. Nobody can stop me from being a member of the Labour Party."

77-year-old Cllr Powell, of Sandy Lane, Caldicot, is due to appear at Newport Crown Court on January 9 to face charges of fraud and theft.

They are not connected with his position as councillor for the Severnside ward of Monmouthshire county council.

A Labour Party office spokesperson said: "Because of the serious criminal charges he has been suspended from office and representation of the Labour Party pending the result of the investigation."