TWO members of Wyre Forest District Council's Progressive Alliance have resigned from the group following a three-hour debate over a motion supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Labour councillors Leigh Whitehouse and Sarah Rook have quit the cross-party alliance, citing policy issues and differences of opinion between members.

It follows a meeting on Wednesday, when Cllr Whitehouse called for the council to "stand fully" with the Black Lives Matter global movement and review the appropriateness of any monuments, statues and street names that commemorated people or companies involved in the slave trade.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Whitehouse said: "We must reflect on injustices in our communities and around the world.

"Now more than ever before, it is vitally important to ensure this is a turning point.

"We must stand resiliently in face of adversity supporting communities that are affected.

"We must understand and address systemic racial discrimination that exists in our own communities."

Seconding the motion, Cllr Rook said: "To say racism is down to a few bad apples ignores the systemic racism that is bedded in our society. Black Lives Matter is more about one incident, it has been around since 2013.

"Unless we tackle those structural inequalities, we are being complicit."

An amendment was submitted by Conservative Group leader Marcus Hart to also include the words "all lives matter" in the motion, and remove any reference to a review of monuments and street names.

Cllr Hart said: "We should not repeat the mistakes of our forefathers, but you cannot rewrite history."

He added: "We say all lives matter. We endorse that there should be equality with black and ethnic communities, and that should be done legally, responsively, respectively and within the rule of law, with no form of anarchy and intolerance."

Council members, including some from the Progressive Alliance, voted in favour of the amendment 18 to 13, before a further amendment was submitted by Councillor Fran Oborski for the motion to recognise that "while all lives do matter", there was a need to place focus on the fact that black lives matter.

The second amendment was passed after a tie-breaker prompted the chairman to make the deciding vote. Cllr Hart then abstained from the final vote and the amended motion was finally approved.

Wyre Forest Labour said Cllr Rook and Cllr Whitehouse would continue to serve their constituents as Labour councillors, and support any "progressive" policies put forward by the ruling coalition.

Cllr Rook, who is leader of the Labour Group, said: "It is with sadness and regret that we have reached the decision to leave the Progressive Alliance.

"We had high hopes initially that we could transform Wyre Forest for the better on environmental and housing policy as well as help create a more democratic council structure.

"Unfortunately, that has not been possible and things came to a head on Wednesday over the frustration tactics of too many fellow councillors on what is an important issue when Leigh presented his excellent Black Lives Matter motion.

"Nevertheless, we had some initial policy successes and would still like a working relationship with the Alliance. Even though we are poles apart politically, we both still want what's best for Wyre Forest.

"Both Leigh and myself wish the remaining Progressive Alliance members well in their pursuit of serving our district.

"I hope they now see us as critical friends rather than as their enemies.

"There are still many good things we can mutually do for the benefit of our local communities by working constructively together.”

Council leader Graham Ballinger said he was "sad to hear" of the Labour members' departure and wished them well for the future.