Labour councillor ousted in row over antisemitism will stand as an independent in May elections

A Labour councillor and former High Peak MP who was de-selected by the party in a row over claims of antisemitism is to stand as an independent.

Ruth George, who represents Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook on Derbyshire County Council, was abandoned by the party last month.

Cllr George, a strong ally of Jeremy Corbyn during his tenure as Labour leader, was forced to apologise in 2019 after she suggested it was “possible” that seven of the party’s former MPs - who defected after experiencing antisemitic abuse - were being supported by the Israeli state. 

This included Baroness Berger, the then-MP for Liverpool Waverley who was an ex-Director of the Labour Friends of Israel, of which Jon Pearce is the current parliamentary chair. 

Other senior figures in the party have rallied to support the decision to remove Cllr George, including the National Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, Lord Katz: “"It is only right that Labour has blocked Ruth George from being a council candidate, given her woeful track record on antisemitism under Corbyn.   

“The Labour Party has changed under Keir Starmer; voters in High Peak can be assured that - whoever or wherever they are - we will only put forward candidates for election who are fit for public office.” 

But now Ms George has announced she will fight for her Whaley Bridge seat as an independent on May 1.

Her spokesman said: "Following the Labour Party’s decision last month to prevent her from standing as a Labour candidate, Ruth received hundreds of messages of support on her Facebook page, many urging her to stand independently.

"Ruth has now responded to say she has decided to stand as an Independent candidate."

Posting on her Councillor page on Sunday she said: "Thank you to everyone who has shown me so much support and kindness since I revealed that the Labour Party no longer wished me to stand as county councillor for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook.

"Many many people have asked if I would stand as an independent candidate. It is a big step but after careful consideration and some very kind offers of help and support, I have agreed for the following reasons: 1. Hundreds of local people have asked me to stand to continue being their councillor – I’m very humbled by that support and want to continue to do my best for everyone. 2. I enjoy being a county councillor. The pay isn’t great (around £12,000 a year for what can be an almost full-time commitment), but I love using my knowledge and experience of the council and of my own community to help people and local organisations, often when they’ve failed to get support elsewhere.

"3. Following Labour’s decision to prevent me from standing, the Conservatives have felt they have the best chance of winning this seat. Derbyshire Conservatives have been disastrous for the county council – slashing public services and support for local people while wasting millions on private provision. As an independent councillor I will do all I can to support efficient and effective services, provided directly wherever possible. Running independently of any party is not easy."

She won the previously Conservative-held seat for the first time ever for Labour in a by-election in 2020 and retained it with an increased vote in the May 2021 election in the face of a well-resourced challenge from for Conservative MP Edwina Currie in a high profile battle of the ex-MPs. 

A spokesperson for the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region added: “We welcome the decision by the Labour Party to select a new candidate to stand in the forthcoming elections in Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook.  

“Outgoing Cllr Ruth George will be remembered by those who fought against antisemitism in the Labour Party as someone who had to apologise for voicing a conspiracy theory, suggesting people leaving the party over anti-Jewish racism were possibly funded by Israel.  

“In addition, she at best turned a blind eye or at worst actively supported colleagues in her CLP [Constituency Labour Party] alleged to have made appalling antisemitic comments.   

“As the Labour Party continues to repair the damage done under its previous leadership, it is right and proper that the best candidates for the role are put forward whether that be locally or nationally.”