Anthony Wedlake, a Wrexham county borough councillor for Coedpoeth and formerly a Labour councillor, has announced his resignation from the party and will now instead sit as a councillor of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).

Councillor Wedlake considers the cutting of disability benefits from the most vulnerable to fund a huge growth in spending on arms as a defining step of Labour moving away from a party for working class people with little to choose from the Tories.

He said: “The Labour Party under Keir Starmer’s leadership has been moving further and further from the core values Labour is meant to represent. I have been concerned about the direction of the party for some time, but to take money from the poorest in our society to spend on armaments is the final straw. I cannot in all conscience remain a member of a party that attacks the working class. I have not left Labour so much as Labour has left me”.

“I believe that we need a new party of the working class that will stand up for the rights of working people and fight the austerity policies of all the other parties: Labour, Tory, Plaid and of course Reform – all of whom would cut spending on services for working people while the richest 1% amass colossal wealth. That is why I will be sitting as a Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition councillor”.

“I will continue to represent the people of Coedpoeth to the best of my ability, and I believe that is best done by leaving a party committed to cutting public services and benefits and instead fighting in their interests as a TUSC councillor”.

“It is also clear that being an independent councillor on Wrexham council means coalition with the Tories which is clearly not an option for me.”

Dave Warren, secretary of TUSC Wales, welcomed Anthony as a TUSC councillor: “I am delighted to welcome Anthony Wedlake to our ranks. I believe that there are many sincere activists in the Labour party who are coming to the conclusion that Labour can no longer be regarded as a party that fights for working class people. A new party based on the trade unions and committed to socialist policies is needed, and TUSC is the first step towards that objective”.

“TUSC Wales welcomes any other Labour councillors who cannot stomach Labour’s commitment to austerity, nationally and locally, to come under the TUSC umbrella. We will be campaigning for a new workers’ party to contest the Senedd and Welsh council elections in 2026 and 2027″.

Councillor Wedlake wished the hundred or so TUSC candidates standing on May 1st in the English council elections well. “I hope they win and help kick-start the process of forming a new party for working people”.

Anthony Wedlake has called a public meeting of the Wrexham Trade Union and Socialist Coalition on Wednesday 9 April at 7-30 pm (Venue TBA). All members of the public are welcome. ■