A former Labour group leader in Cardiff has launched a Facebook group entitled: “What’s wrong with Cardiff council Labour group?”
Long-serving Trowbridge and St Mellons councillor Ralph Cook launched the group after announcing his resignation on Saturday.
Coun Cook, a former group leader and deputy leader of the council has been a staunch critic of the city’s current Labour leadership, and was suspended from the group last week.
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'I loathe bullies'
In the new Facebook group, Coun Cook calls for people to share their views “positive or negative” about the Cardiff Labour group.
“All submissions need to be respectful as insults, rudeness and threats may be perceived as bullying and I loathe bullies.
“Any posts that I judge to be rude, insulting or unduly aggressive to me or anyone else will be deleted and the contributor blocked without warning,” he said.
How Ralph Cook has attacked Cardiff council leader:
Coun Cook, who was the Labour group leader while it was in opposition and Rodney Berman was the Lib Dem council leader, said that his removal from committees after his suspension was the final straw.
After his resignation, the Trowbridge councillor said he expected others to follow suit and leave the group.
In an email to all councillors on Friday evening, Coun Cook stated: “I have just learnt that as an additional sanction for my extremely minor infringement – with substantial mitigation – of the Labour group standing orders at the meeting of full council on November 27, 2014, I have now been removed from all council committees with immediate effect by the Labour leadership.
“This sanction was not referred to during my ‘show trial’ on Monday evening and has not been discussed or decided by the Labour group.
How the Labour split came to a head earlier this year:
'Nasty vindictive and incompetent'
“And so it is with deep regret that I can no longer remain a member of a political group consisting of so many nasty, vindictive, cruel and incompetent politicians as the Cardiff Labour group of councillors.
“After 37 years membership of the Labour Party and almost 16 years serving the Trowbridge ward as a Labour councillor I have just instructed officers of the council to suspend all my future financial contributions to the Labour group.
“With immediate effect I will no longer be accepting the Labour group whip.”
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Welsh Conservatives have responded saying the Labour group are “embarrassing our capital city”.
“When the city is supposedly bidding for a city deal, this constant sense of turmoil within the Labour council group is hugely damaging for the whole region.
“Ralph Cook is not a distant backbencher, only 18 months ago he was deputy leader of the council.
“The sheer incompetence of the council is alarming and at a time when Cardiff should be going from strength to strength, councillors are more concerned with infighting than making decisions that improve Cardiff and put the city first.
Another Ralph Cook attack:
'Cardiff needs strong leadership'
“On the back of their crushing by-election defeat in Pentyrch last week, one wonders how long this mess can carry on for, which is clearly damaging the prestige of our great capital city.
“With the huge potential for a city deal funded by the Conservative Government at Westminster, Cardiff needs strong leadership and simply cannot afford to be left behind and this grotesque and farcical power struggle could place it all at risk.”
Speaking after Coun Cook’s resignation, Cardiff Labour group secretary and spokeswoman Coun Sue White said: “Ralph Cook is already suspended from the group so his decision to resign is futile.
“His comments about the group say far more about him than any other member.”
