Following careful consideration, I have concluded that it is in the best interests of Staffordshire, our residents and this County Council for me to step down as Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Leader of the Reform UK Group. This was a difficult decision, but the interests of Staffordshire, the Council and those we serve must come first. I do so with a clear conscience and immense pride in what we achieved together. During my time as Leader, we delivered a balanced budget, protected frontline services, secured significant investment in highways, children's services and community facilities, and provided stability through one of the most challenging periods in the County Council's recent history. I am particularly proud of the work undertaken to strengthen Staffordshire's identity, confidence and economic ambition. Through supporting investment, promoting county pride, strengthening skills and employment opportunities, and backing our tourism and leisure sectors, I sought to help unlock Staffordshire's potential and create opportunities for future generations. Whether supporting major investment, protecting Staffordshire County Farms or advocating for local businesses on the national stage, my focus was always on ensuring Staffordshire remained a county where businesses could invest, communities could thrive and residents could succeed. Staffordshire is home to some of our country's most successful global businesses and institutions, including JCB, Indurent, JLR, Finning, Keele University and Keele University Science and Innovation Park, alongside thousands of small businesses, from farm shops to engineering firms, from global manufacturers to hospitality venues and family-run enterprises. They are a reminder that Staffordshire remains one of the great manufacturing heartlands of Great Britain and a county with enormous potential for the future. I am equally proud of the work I started to raise the profile of Staffordshire's tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. With the likes of Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, Trentham Estate and Cannock Chase, together with the thousands of hotels, spas, glamping sites, restaurants, event venues and award-winning pubs that welcome visitors every year, Staffordshire has an offer few counties can rival. I have long believed that our county should be recognised not only as a centre of industry and innovation, but also as a destination where people come to relax, explore and create lasting memories. That is why we branded Staffordshire as The Nation's Playground. I have always believed Staffordshire deserved a stronger voice and greater recognition, and that's why I called Staffordshire: The Beating Heart of the Country. It has been a privilege to serve the people of Staffordshire and to work alongside dedicated councillors, officers, businesses, community organisations and residents. While my time as Leader has come to an end, my commitment to Staffordshire and the people of Cannock remains unchanged. I do wish the Council and its new leadership every success in the years ahead. Martin Murray Staffordshire County Councillor for Cannock Town

After considerable reflection, I have decided to resign my membership of the Labour Party with immediate effect. I joined and supported Labour for the best part of my life because I believed in a political movement rooted in working people, strong local democracy, equality, justice, fairness and genuine internal pluralism. I no longer believe it reflects those principles. I also wish to place on record my serious concerns about the current state of the Birmingham Labour Group. Far too often, questions from members are ignored or left unanswered, and there is little to no meaningful feedback loop between leadership and those expected to deliver decisions on the ground. This is not an isolated issue but a consistent culture of avoidance and opacity. In my view, the current local leadership lacks the experience, judgement, and political competence required to effectively manage a group in a city as complex and demanding as Birmingham. These are matters of personal experience and perception, but they have contributed to a loss of confidence in internal processes and accountability. I, like my ward colleague were troubled by expectations placed on representatives to support the elevation of councillors from Reform UK into influential committee positions. Many residents view Reform UK as a party that has contributed to hostility toward Muslims and minority communities. I am also deeply concerned by the direction of Labour’s immigration policy, which appears increasingly shaped by political expediency rather than principle or long-term vision. In conversations with residents in Bromford and Hodge Hill, this has been a recurring concern, with many expressing anxieties about how recent policy shifts are being communicated and implemented, and a sense that communities like ours are often talked about rather than listened to. Most recently, I was deeply disappointed by Andy Burnham’s refusal to describe the events unfolding in Gaza, Palestine as a genocide, despite the scale of devastation and civilian loss that has shocked people across the world. I am also dismayed by the refusal of many senior Labour figures to clearly acknowledge the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Palestine. The most recent reports suggest more than 72,991 Palestinians have been killed. This has not been an abstract debate but a deeply felt rupture for many people, particularly within Muslim communities, who feel their concerns and humanity have not been properly recognised or reflected. This growing disconnect is also increasingly reflected in recent survey evidence. A Muslim census report found that only 7% of the Muslim respondents in its local election sample reported voting for Labour. It is apparent where Labour support does persist, it is often closely tied to established family, friendship or local political networks rather than broader political engagement with the party. I no longer recognise the Labour Party as a genuinely broad, democratic political movement. It has become more managerial, centralised, and constrained in its tolerance of internal difference, both locally and nationally. For these reasons, I can no longer remain a member in good conscience. There remain many committed individuals within the party who continue to serve their communities with integrity and dedication, and I wish them well. I also hope that serious reflection takes place on the direction the party is travelling in and the values it now represents. My views no longer fit comfortably within a Labour Party. Ultimately, the Labour Party has left me, not the other way around. I will continue to work to represent the people of Bromford and Hodge Hill with my ward colleague Cllr Diane Donaldson and to stand up for the communities and values that first led me into public service.

Ex-council leader claims officials were "pushing to dismiss" striking Birmingham bin workers Read @LewisJWarner's write-up here 👇 itv.com/news/central/2026-06…

Tory leader calls suspended councillor 'dishonest' for attempting to form coalition with Greens. | @Tom_Howlett_ itv.com/news/central/2026-06…

I think Blair had done everyone a service as now anyone seeking to rule Labour needs to put forward their own 5,500 word intellectual treatise and diagnosis and that is only going to be a good thing.