A COUNCILLOR has chosen not to respond to calls for her to resign by her former party.

As reported, Cllr Kate Wheller, a member of both Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council, has quit the Labour Party. She said she no longer recognises the party it has become and felt it was trying to score ‘political points’.

She had been a member of the party for around 25 years and a Labour councillor since 2002.

Cllr Wheller has chosen to sit as an independent member.

Tony Prowse, Chairman of South Dorset Labour Party, said: “We were disappointed to hear of Kate Wheller’s resignation. Whilst we thank her for her service, we profoundly disagree with her reasons for resigning.

“We would also like to point out that only in May, Kate stood as a Labour candidate receiving full support and funding from the Labour Party and its local members. Kate also received endorsement from the electorate who believed, at the time, they were supporting a Labour Party representative. Therefore, in order to avoid the democratic deficit left by Kate’s resignation, we do hope that she does the honourable thing and resigns her current positions on Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council and calls for a by-election.”

Cllr Wheller said she had no comment to make.