TODAY (18th Feb), Councillor Qaisar Abbas has left the Labour Group and joined the Thurrock Conservatives. This increases the size of the Thurrock Conservative Group to 30 of the 49 Councillors.
Cllr Qaisar Abbas said: “I am left with no choice except to resign from the Labour Party. Thurrock Labour is riddled with bullying, discrimination, islamophobia and nepotism.
“I will continue to fight for and protect the best interests of residents of Purfleet-on-Thames, West Thurrock and South Stifford and wider communities I have worked with over the years as a Conservative Councillor.”
Conservative Council Leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill said: “This is great news for the Conservative Group and indeed for the residents of West Thurrock and South Stifford.
“Qaisar is well known as a hard working Councillor for his residents and I know he will do all he can to retain his seat in May and continue that fantastic work.
“I believe Qaisar joining the group is a further endorsement of the work we are doing locally. We cannot risk Thurrock’s future by allowing Labour back into power.
“There are some very serious allegations made by Cllr Abbas and I hope the National Labour party will mount a full investigation into Thurrock Labour.”
Today I met Councillor Qaisar abbas in Thurrock Council for courtesy visit. He is a vessel of honour and peace, working together with different religious organisations for the sake of love one another irrespective of your religious background. We should love one another either black, white, Indian and so on. It was a good time to be together with him.