Former Brent Deputy Mayor Resigns from Labour Party Following Suspension
Cllr Kathleen Fraser, a North London councillor and former Deputy Mayor of Brent, has announced her resignation from the Labour Party with immediate effect. This decision comes after she was administratively suspended during an investigation into a complaint made by a local resident, allegations which she completely refutes. Fraser has expressed that she has lost faith in the party due to the handling of her case.
Investigation and Suspension Details
In June 2025, just over a month after becoming Brent's Deputy Mayor, Fraser was suspended by the Labour Party based on a complaint raised in January 2024. The allegations, which have not been made public, date back to summer 2022. Fraser claims she received no communication about the complaint until October 2024, when she was given a tight deadline to respond to 18 questions. She submitted a 14-page detailed response refuting the allegations on November 6, 2024.
After her suspension, Fraser was bound by a code of silence during an eight-month investigation. She has criticized the party for providing no help amidst what she describes as a barrage of adverse publicity, leading to severe emotional distress and damage to her reputation locally and in the media.
Flawed Process and Lack of Transparency
Fraser alleges that the investigation process was flawed and lacked transparency. She suggests the timing of her suspension, shortly after her appointment as Deputy Mayor, was intended to cause maximum damage to her personal standing and within the community. In a statement posted on the local blogging website Wembley Matters on March 17, she detailed her grievances.
She received a letter from the party on February 18, 2026, informing her of a hearing and inviting her to engage, which she read with increasing incredulity and fury. Fraser responded by refuting the allegations again and informing the party that a hearing was unnecessary as she was resigning.
Moving Forward as an Independent
Cllr Fraser will continue to serve as an Independent councillor for Barnhill ward. In her statement, she emphasized her commitment to principles of natural justice, transparency, and fairness, stating that based on her bitter experience, the Labour Party no longer represents these qualities for her. The London Labour Group was approached for comment but did not respond prior to publication.
