FOUR Stroud District Councillors have released a joint statement following their resignations from the Labour Party. 

Stroud District Council leader Doina Cornell, vice chair Trevor Hall plus Robin Layfield and Colin Fryer all resigned last week from the party. 

Ms Cornell announced her resignation last week following the selection process for Labour's parliamentary candidate for the Stroud constituency. 

Since then, councillors Hall, Layfield and Fryer have all resigned. 

"With the greatest regret we have taken the hard decision to leave the Labour Party," read their joint statement. 

"We will continue to serve the communities that elected us as Community Independent Councillors on Stroud District Council.

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"We are immensely grateful to our friends and colleagues in the local Labour Party, the trade union movement, the Co-operative Alliance itself and the wider community for your support following this difficult decision. 

"As Community Independents we will be free to focus on the local issues that matter, without being part of a centralised party whose leadership does not connect with our values. 

"Our top priority will remain as it has always been, from the moment we were elected, to serve the residents of our wards, to support and uphold the Cooperative Alliance that has successfully run Stroud District council for ten years, and to assist in the delivery of the council plan for the benefit of local residents with its focus on community, the environment and the local economy. 

"Above all we are committed to ensuring that local support can be provided to those struggling most with the cost of living crisis."

Reaction from the Green Party 

SDC Deputy Leader Katherine Braun (Green) has said that her party is committed to the Stroud District Council cooperative alliance. 

"We've been working cross party for ten years and we are focused on delivering on our plans for a fairer and more sustainable future." 

Everything will continue as usual

A spokesperson from the SDC recently told the SNJ:“Following the resignation of Cllr Doina Cornell from the Labour Party, the council administration will be reviewing the current Cooperative Alliance arrangements and will confirm before the next Council meeting on 21 July.

"In the meantime everything will continue as usual.”