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East Riding Councillor Steve Gallant Defects from Labour to the Conservatives
By Drooid · · How we work
Defection Details
Councillor Steve Gallant, representing the South West Holderness ward on East Riding of Yorkshire Council, announced that he left the Labour group and joined the Conservative Party. Gallant said the move followed a meeting with the regional Labour Party in which he was told he would not be selected as a candidate for the local elections scheduled for next May. He left Labour “last Thursday” and formally joined the Conservatives “on Monday.” Gallant added that most council work is “not party political” and that he wishes to continue serving his constituents under a party that “welcomes” him.
Background and Recent Developments
Gallant has served as chair of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the body’s most senior committee. He has previously collaborated with Conservative MP Graham Stuart on local issues such as telegraph-pole placement, opposition to a proposed nuclear dump at Patrington, and efforts to improve mobile-phone signal coverage. The Labour Party declined to comment on individual cases, but the BBC understands it will not put forward Gallant as a candidate in the upcoming elections.
Official Reactions
Council leader Anne Handley responded to Gallant’s decision by inviting him to stand for the Conservatives, stating that he could continue representing his area under the new affiliation. Conservative MP Graham Stuart publicly welcomed Gallant’s defection, citing their joint work on regional campaigns. The Labour Party issued a brief statement indicating it would not comment on the specific situation.
Implications for Local Politics
Gallant’s switch alters the composition of the council’s party groups ahead of the May elections, potentially strengthening the Conservative presence in East Riding. As chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, his continued role may influence the council’s oversight functions, though he emphasized that council decisions are largely non-partisan. Observers note that the defection could affect candidate selections and campaign dynamics in the South West Holderness ward.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to continue to represent my residents in South West Holderness.” — Conservatives. Steve Gallant, currently a councillor in the South West Holderness ward