Labour suspends councillor over glass centre row

Denny Wilson said his involvement in a motion was not meant to be political

A Labour councillor says he is "disappointed" after he was suspended by the local party due to his involvement in a motion to save the National Glass Centre.

Denny Wilson, who sits on Sunderland City Council, had the whip removed for three months in July. He continues to represent the Castle ward as an independent.

Wilson said the suspension happened over his part in a motion, which had questioned the accuracy of the estimated bill to fix the site, which is due to close next year.

A Sunderland Labour Group spokesperson said they would not comment on individual cases or disciplinary matters.

Wilson said he had been unable to attend a council meeting in June to discuss the motion due to health reasons.

Instead, he had sent his comments calling for a public inquiry to fellow North Sunderland Area Committee members Michael Hartnack and Joshua McKeith - the Conservative councillors who had put forward the motion - to be read out on his behalf.

However, the comments - which also questioned why the Labour-run council had not done more to help attract visitors - were instead read out by Sunderland Conservatives' leader Antony Mullen.

"The Labour group didn't like it, which I can understand," Wilson said.

"It wasn't meant to be political and I think I made that clear in the email."

Wilson's speech had called for a public inquiry into the handling of glass centre

Recently, Wilson wrote an open letter to the vice-chancellor of Sunderland University, which is the custodian of the venue.

In it, he raised concerns from residents over a "rush to demolish" the building so the land could be sold to a housing developer and said that "surely demolition must be the last resort".

Sir David Bell denied the claims, saying the university had "diligently governed" the site and the land was "not of significant value".

The centre is due to close in July, with unaffordable repair costs blamed for the decision. Up to 25 people will be made redundant.

A replacement, at the former Peter Smith Antiques site in Sunniside, is due to open in 2028, with the aim of preserving the city's glass-making history.