Walsall council leader suspended by Tories after disciplinary hearing

The leader of Walsall Council has been suspended by the Conservative Party.

Councilor Mike Bird told the BBC he planned to appeal the three-month ban after a disciplinary investigation was launched.

The Tories have said details of the investigation, which also saw Streetly councilor Suky Samra suspended, will remain confidential.

Councilor Bird has chaired the authority three times since 2009, including from May 2018 to the present.

The Conservatives continue to control the council following the May 2 local elections, in which they won 12 seats, while Labor secured five and three secured by independent candidates.

A Conservative Party spokesman confirmed two councilors had been suspended.

“Councilor Mike Bird and Councilor Suky Samra have been suspended from the Conservative Party following a disciplinary investigation. All decisions can be appealed.

“The Conservative Party has an established code of conduct and formal processes through which complaints can be made confidentially. This process is rightly confidential.”

Councilor Samra has confirmed that he also intends to appeal his suspension. He has been in office as an independent since last year.

A Walsall Council spokesman told the BBC that Mr Bird could remain chairman of the authority during the suspension.

“This is a Conservative Party matter. Under the Local Government Act, actions by a political party do not disqualify an elected member from continuing to be a councilor.”

Labor opposition group leader in Walsall, Councilor Matt Ward, is calling on Mike Bird to resign until the investigation is complete.

“Residents want the council to address the issues affecting their lives. This is another incident where attention is drawn to something that shouldn’t be. It’s up to the Conservative group to appoint a new leader so the council can move.”

A Conservative source told the BBC that the selection of the leadership team would be on the AGM agenda later.