A COUNCILLOR has resigned from the Conservative party after allegations of bullying and harassment towards his wife and family by a local Conservative association, a council meeting heard.

Councillor Mark Westwood, who resigned the Conservative group whip at Dudley Council last week (17 April), told councillors he was on his “third warning” from the association over speaking out about bullying.

He told the full council meeting he had endured “many lectures about loyalty in the past couple of months” – in reference to calamitous events within the the national Conservative party.

During his speech, councillor Westwood claimed a fellow councillor – Anne Millward – had been banned from attending a visit to see the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who had visited the Black Country to launch the Conservative Party’s local election campaign.

He said: “It was sad that Anne was banned from going to see the Prime Minister on his recent visit to Dudley, apparently because they ‘did not wish to make the visit uncomfortable’ with her there. I wondering made that decision.”

Councillor Westwood claimed another councillor and wife – Tina Westwood – had “three years from hell” after experiencing bullying by the Conservative association against her and her family.

He said a complaint was raised against her three years ago because she had been the treasurer of Dudley North Conservative association “for too long”. Complaints of a serious nature, he claimed, were not followed up or denied access by national Conservative figures.

“I have no doubt some people within the Dudley North Conservative association have taken great pleasure in this which speaks volumes for the association and those individuals,” he said.

Councillor Westwood had, until last week, kept his 20-year membership of the Conservative party to help the residents of Dudley North improve their lives. He concluded the “personal gain and ego” of association members had forced him to resign.

Councillors Tina Westwood, Anne Millward, and Karen Shakespeare, were deselected in March as Conservative candidates ahead of the local elections in May.

Councillor Millward was suspended last year by the Conservatives and briefly sat as an independent for 21 days after comments criticising the Black Country Plan.

At the time, councillor Millward claimed she was rejected despite being the only candidate put forward for the seat – and alleged the reason for her de-selection was down to misogyny.

“You’ve got three female councillors with a combined 55 years of experience who have all been de-selected in favour of male candidates. They have a real problem and it’s very sad we’re being singled out in this way,” she claimed in a statement refuted by the association, who later revealed Claire Sullivan had been selected as the candidate for Gornal.

Councillor Tina Westwood said she had become a councillor to “help people and give something back to the community”.

“I have known since 2019, that my days are numbered when the bullying and harassment started against me and my family and the party locally, regionally and nationally has chosen to ignore this. Good luck to my loyal friends who are standing in these coming elections,” she concluded.

In a further statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) she said she felt “let down by the party that I have served for 50 years who have shown no duty of care to me”.

Councillor Michael Evans also made a damning speech. He said he was “totally ashamed” of being a member of Dudley North Conservative association.

He said: “All of my working life and for the last 23 years as a conservative councillor,  I have always carried out my duties with pride and professionalism. And I’ve always been proud to be a member of the Conservative Party.

“I’m totally ashamed of being a member of Dudley North Conservative Association, an association I believe has betrayed and not supported the hard working councillors or non-serving councillors of Dudley North, for the wrong reasons. Or maybe they have been wrongly led by someone else.”

Patrick Harley, leader of Conservative-led Dudley Council, said it was “regrettable”.

“Whatever the fallings out between the individuals and their association, when you can pick away all the nonsense, they are hardworking decent councillors,” he said.

In a varying speech, Qadar Zada, the Labour leader of the opposition at Dudley Council, said councillor Harley should resign.

“We’re told this is a strong and dynamic cabinet. It doesn’t feel like it today, does it? We’ve had bullying, harassment, intimidation, resignations, we’ve heard that the leader nobody has any confidence in the leader […] you should go, councillor Harley and you should take your friends along with you.”

Dudley Conservatives and Black Country Conservatives were approached for comment.