A COUNCILLOR has quit the Labour party to join an alliance with two former members.

Daniel Munyambu, who has represented Vange since 2011, has announced he will now sit as an Independent Labour councillor alongside Phil and Pat Rackley.

The couple formed their own party on Basildon Council after resigning from Labour themselves at the beginning of 2013.

Mr Munyambu, 40, has been seeking legal advice after being suspended by the Labour party nationally.

The group took the decision to suspend him more than two years ago as he is facing fraud charges in his native Kenya in connection with a car export business run from his home in Clickett End, Basildon.

Mr Munyambu was initially forced to stand locally as an independent councillor, but was allowed back into Basildon's Labour group at the beginning of 2013.

Following a series of talks with his lawyers, the Labour party head office and Mr and Mrs Rackley, he finally decided to quit the group after Thursday's full council meeting.

Mr Munyambu said: "For two or three years now the Labour Party has denied me full membership yet still expected me to follow their instructions.

"I finally decided at the council meeting that enough was enough and I have formally resigned as a Labour party member as well as from Labour group and I will be joining the Independent Labour group of councillors.

"I can confirm that I will continue to work, as I always have, for the residents of Vange as their councillor."

Phil Rackley, leader of Independent Labour, said: "I welcome councillor Munyambu’s decision to join the Independent Labour group, it seems that he has been dealt with very unfairly by the Labour Party and I am sure he will feel far more at home with our group.”