Hull councillors fight suspension for opposing cuts

Gary Wareing, Dean Kirk and Gill Kennett rebelled at the city council's budget meeting last month and opposed the cuts.

But on Monday the ruling Labour group's leaders indefinitely suspended councillors Wareing and Kirk, and suspended Cllr Kennett for three months.

The trio are to lodge an appeal tomorrow against the "harsh" decision.

"I fought the election against the cuts and won it on that basis," Cllr Kirk told the Morning Star.

"To be suspended for standing up for what you won the election on is a bit hypocritical really."

Labour Representation Committee national secretary Pete Firmin urged campaigners to protest against the "victimisation" of the "Hull Three," whom he praised as the "conscience of our movement, just like the MPs who refused to vote for the Iraq war."

Unison's Hull branch co-chairman Andy Stankard said the union had appealed for leniency and said that "we don't know why there is a difference in how the three have been treated."

Mr Stankard said the councillors had taken "a principled stand" and the union would continue to support them.

"But under no circumstances will we attack or criticise Labour councillors who are forced legally to make disgraceful decisions by a government that doesn't care a jot about ordinary people."