Labour suspends Sheriff of Nottingham over budget cuts vote

Shuguftah Quddoos said she had lost sleep over the impact of the cuts

The Sheriff of Nottingham has been suspended from the Labour Party for opposing a huge package of council cuts.

Shuguftah Quddoos was the only member of the party who voted against savings approved by Labour-run Nottingham City Council on Monday.

She said she could not "in good conscience" support cuts she felt would harm the city.

Labour said it expected its members to set a "responsible and legal budget".

Mrs Quddoos has now been suspended from the council's Labour group and the party as a whole, a spokesperson said.

The public gallery was packed for the budget meeting

A seven-and-a-half hour budget debate ended with 38 councillors voting to approve savings to try to plug and anticipated £53m black hole in the council's finances in 2024-25.

Two councillors abstained and Mrs Quddoos voted against them.

Mrs Quddoos, who represents the city's Berridge ward and currently holds the civic position of Sheriff of Nottingham, told the BBC: "When I looked at this budget all I could see was harm to the people I represent.

"We have a lot of young people, people with complex needs, and I couldn't in all good conscience vote for this budget."

Speaking of her suspension, she said: "I went in with my eyes open. When you make a difficult decision there is always a price to pay. I knew there was a risk."

'Difficult decisions'

The city council declared itself effectively bankrupt in November, warning it would not be able to balance its books for the current financial year.

The government appointment commissioners to help run the council in February.

Changes were already being overseen by a government-appointed board following the collapse of council-owned Robin Hood Energy in 2020, but commissioners now have direct decision-making powers.

Council leader David Mellen said councillors voted to approve the cuts "with great reluctance".

Plans for the year from April include hundreds of job losses and cuts to social care and youth services.

A review of libraries is also planned along with a council tax rise of almost 5%.

A Labour Party spokesperson said the council had faced "difficult budget decisions".

The spokesperson added: "The council has a duty to set a legal and balanced budget and we expect all Labour group members to support proposals to set a responsible and legal budget."