Labour city councillor suspended for criticising party on library and day centre cuts

A Birmingham Labour councillor has been suspended amid claims he had 'brought the party into disrepute' by making critical comments about planned cuts to libraries and day centres and the actions of party colleagues.

Martin Brooks was on holiday in Portugal when he received an email from the group leadership today, Friday, September 13, telling him he was subject to an 'administrative suspension' pending a full investigation. It said complaints had been received relating to social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, he made between the end of May and the end of August.

Brooks, who represents Harborne, has been increasingly vocal about his opposition to planned council cuts that would see the library in his ward close and a vital day centre service shut. He was unrepentant, saying he would fight the allegations but was determined to continue standing up for residents in his constituency, who were angered and upset about local closure plans and the way consultations had been conducted.

READ MORE: Small Heath councillor quits Labour to join Lib Dems amid 'bullying and misogyny' claims

"I will continue to campaign on issues that are affecting local residents. It is true that I have been critical about the impact of two particular issues but I will not be deterred from speaking up about them."

It's the second incident this week involving Labour group councillors. Small Heath councillor Shabina Bano announced last night that she was defecting to the Lib Dems, claiming the party had failed to deal appropriately with her multiple complaints of bullying and misogyny.

Brooks was the subject of an exclusive article last month in the Inside Birmingham with Jane Haynes newsletter outlining his 'rebel' status, which explained how he was proving a headache for the Labour leadership. You can read the full expose here.

Cllr Martin Brooks introduces the all-party at Birmingham City Council on Srebrenica Memorial Day last week
Cllr Martin Brooks -Credit:Birmingham City Council

It concluded: "If he’s crossed a line this far, or does so imminently, and is kicked out of the party as a result, he could be hailed as a “martyr”. If he stays inside the Labour tent but persists in his criticism, will the leadership look weak on dissent? This is definitely a space worth watching."

Today's action appears to be a response to his on-going commentary. In an email confirming the action, Brooks was told he was being 'administratively suspended' over allegations he published social media posts that 'may reasonably bring the Labour Party into disrepute.'

As a result he cannot attend any party or Birmingham Labour group meetings but will be expected to continue to abide by the Labour Group whip - a way of controlling members through a system of orders, agreed collective action and patronage.

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Brooks has been at the forefront of a campaign to save Harborne Library, which is under threat of closure. Library recommendations subject to a current wave of consultations include closing the current building and setting up an alternative part time library in an unidentified location. He has also been supporting families battling plans to close Harborne Day Centre, which provides daily support for adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.

He has also campaigned over Palestine, and against some Labour government policies.

His recent tweets include:

"Our youngsters know how precious our library service is. Let’s not let them down. Attend the public consultations - Harborne library’s is on 24 September, (10.30 - 12.00) and reject @BhamCityCouncil proposals which will close Harborne and other libraries," alongside a photo of a children's poster spelling out why they love their libraries.

He has also retweeted criticism of Labour plans to cut winter fuel payments to some pensioners, and vocally criticised his party for its failures to intervene on the destruction of Gaza more vociferously.

He has also backed calls by grassroots organisations like Birmingham People's Assembly to demand that Labour MPs fight for the city in Parliament, and was damning about a claim by Labour MP Jess Phillips that she had received 'special treatment' from a Palestinian doctor at a University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust A&E for backing a Gaza ceasefire.

He was also recently critical of his group's deputy leader Sharon Thompson after she was given a role as deputy mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority. He tweeted his concern that it posed a potential 'conflict of interest'. "In any case given the problems facing @BhamCityCouncil its political leadership should be full-time," he tweeted.

It is likely comments like these have landed him in hot water. One insider said he was 'not being a team player'.

He said of his dissent: “I’m speaking up against the cuts in libraries and youth services because they’ll devastate the social fabric of the city and damage young people’s life chances for years to come. Most cuts have neither been discussed nor voted on by the city’s Labour Group.

“Although I’ve only been back on the City Council for two years I’ve served nearly 20 years on the Council and have never broken the Party Whip. But I’m going to continue to speak out against the cuts - there’s nothing anyone can give or take away from me that will make any difference to me.”

In a response to the original Inside Birmingham story, a Birmingham Labour Group spokesperson said: “Members of the group are encouraged to engage with and advocate on behalf of their local residents, including on such matters as the library service.

"The whips team remind members to behave in a comradely manner towards colleagues online and that there has been and will be further opportunity to discuss this matter privately within the group and with the cabinet member. We encourage all members of the group to attend and engage within those sessions or alternatively arrange to discuss with the cabinet member.”

We contacted the group earlier today about the decision to suspend Cllr Brooks, so far without reply.