Suspended Dover councillor quits to sit as independent

A second Dover Labour councillor has quit the group in a week.

Shehrazade Maria Mamjan, who until her resignation was suspended from the local party, quit to sit as an independent councillor for Aylesham, Eyethorne and Shepherdswell.

Mamjan said she did not feel like the "right fit" for the local group.

Last week a councillor for the same ward, Charles Woodgate, quit over national issues with the Labour party. This left the council in no overall control.

Kevin Mills, the Labour Leader of Dover District Council, said of Mamjan's resignation: "I am saddened that Maria has taken the decision to resign and go independent."

He added: "The councillor in question was suspended from the Labour party over a year ago."

Mamjan has confirmed her suspension related to comments she had made relating to Gaza.

Speaking of her move to become an independent councillor, she told the BBC the local Labour group had "resorted to juvenile tactics to discredit [me]."

She added: "In the spirit of serving the residents in my ward to the best of my ability, I believe I must now act independently, without the constraints of party politics, so I can better represent all those who have entrusted me with their concerns."

The Conservative opposition leader of Dover District Council, Trevor Bartlett, said in a statement: "The resignation of a second Labour councillor in just a week reflects a party mired in division, led by divisive personalities more focused on internal party squabbles than the best interests of local residents."

The council has been left with no overall control, with both the Labour and Conservative group having 15 councillors each, alongside two independents.

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