Welsh Labour councillor resigns with damning parting message

A Welsh Labour councillor from Cardiff has resigned from the party following scathing criticism of the group in a recent announcement.

Councillor Jasmin Chowdhury, who served as Labour councillor for the Canton ward, said she would now be serving residents as an independent member after citing a number of concerns.

In a statement posted on Facebook Cllr Chowdhury said she could not remain affiliated with a party due to a leadership that “lacks the moral courage and political backbone to stand up to tyrants”.

She added the party was “shifting to the right” leading to what she described as “disastrous policies that erode civil liberties and punish the most vulnerable in our society, including disabled people”.

In a resignation statement she said: “Having been a member of the Labour party for most of my adult life this decision has not been taken lightly. I joined the Labour Party because of its historic commitment to social justice, internationalism, equality, and the protection of human rights.

“However I can no longer, in good conscience, remain affiliated with a party whose current leadership lacks the moral courage and political backbone to stand up to tyrants who are making a mockery of international law and continuing acts that many international bodies and experts have described as genocide.

“This moral failure is mirrored domestically. The party’s continued cowardice in shifting to the right has contributed to disastrous policies that erode civil liberties and punish the most vulnerable in our society, including disabled people.

“This includes the criminalisation of dissent through the arrest of peaceful protesters across the UK including in Cardiff. Rather than defending the fundamental democratic right to protest Labour has too often chosen silence or accommodation, legitimising authoritarian approaches it should be challenging.

“The failure of the Labour government and party leadership to offer principled opposition, meaningful accountability, or a clear ethical stance — both internationally and at home — has left me deeply disillusioned.

“Silence, ambiguity, and political calculation in the face of injustice and bigotry both internationally and at home are not compatible with the values that brought me into public service.

“At a local level I am equally concerned by the absence of accountability within party leadership structures. Serious questions must be asked about how decisions are made, whose voices are heard, and whose are marginalised.

“In particular there has been a troubling failure to support women within the party, many of whom feel alienated, dismissed, or unsupported when raising concerns. This culture is not one I can continue to endorse.

“My duty is, first and foremost, to the people I represent. Continuing as an independent councillor for Canton will allow me to act with integrity, honesty, and freedom of conscience without being constrained by party positions that I fundamentally disagree with.

“I remain committed to the principles of justice, equality, peace, and accountability and I will continue to advocate for these values both locally and more broadly.”

The resignation of Cllr Chowdhury comes just weeks after another two Labour councillors resigned from the party in the borough of Blaenau Gwent with Cllr Helen Cunningham of Llanhilleth becoming an independent member and Cllr Sonia Behr of Nantyglo joining the Green Party.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached Welsh Labour for comment on the recent resignation of Cllr Chowdhury.