Purges cost Labour majority on Bristol City Council

A raft of councilors have been kicked out of the party, costing them control.

The Labour party’s suspension of party members has deprived the party of its majority on Bristol City Council.

Bristol councillors Hibaq Jama and Mike Langley have been suspended from the party, causing the number of councillors to fall to 34 – two short of an overall majority.

Also suspended is Andy Burkitt, a prominent local activist. Thangam Debbonaire, a Bristol MP who has been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn’s since she quit the frontbench, has called the process “a mess”, and asked members to “keep faith with the Labour party and appeal”.

The Labour party has been reached for comment.