WEST BROM CONSERVATIVES DO THE SPLITS

24-11-2007

The Stirrer has discovered an amazing split in the ranks of West Bromwich Conservatives. A group of traditionalists led by a former Sandwell Mayor have created a breakaway branch, while the main constituency party is led by former Labour supporters.

Ex-Mayor Bill Archer, his daughter Cllr Elaine Costigan and another councillor Mavis Hughes are part of the separatist movement, which is based around the Wednesbury Conservative club.

Archer confirmed: “There has been a breakaway. One group of people took over and decided to move to Tipton. We wanted to stay on in Wednesbury, so quite legally we formed our own branch.

"They've just got different ideas to us, and I'm died in the wool Wednesbury, so I wanted to stay here."

The division was created when Basharat Khan and a group of former Labour party members switched allegiance and decided to join the Conservatives instead.

Khan was elected Chair of West Bromwich West Tories last year, but says that some of the existing members were in denial.

“There was a small group of us who were in Labour, and before we joined, the Conservatives could have held their meetings in a phone box. We gave them a kick up the backside, and got them organised.

“When I was elected chair, although I won fair and square, some of the councillors never accepted it.

“I’m afraid that there is still an element of racism in the Conservative party.

“We were banned from having meetings at the Wednesbury club, and it was said to me that we would have the Muslim members taking over.

“A that point I just gave up. No branch can have members of just one ethic group. We need to unite and work together."

Archer vehemently denied that there was any racial motive in the split and rejected Khan’s claims that he and his backers had been banned from Wednesbury.

“That’s absolutely not true,” he said. “And he should be very careful about suggesting racism, as it could cost him an awful lot of money.

“There has never been any mention of racism in any shape or form.

“The club is completely open to them, and they are welcome to come back at any time.”

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