'Devastated' ousted council leader hopes to return

The leader of a council who was ousted after just four months has said she was "devastated" to lose a no-confidence vote.

Labour's Tahmina Saleem replaced long-serving Hazel Simmons on Luton Council in May, but a leadership challenge in September saw Liberal Democrat Amjid Ali placed in charge of the authority.

Saleem said: "Everybody said don't take this personally and I'm thinking how can I not take it personally as it's a vote of no-confidence against the leader so it is absolutely personal."

Ali said: "My commitment is to Luton and when I saw Labour was no longer in a stable position to run the town a coalition was formed to stabilise the political landscape."

Simmons had been in charge of the authority since 2007, but stood down in March 2026 with Saleem taking over after the council's annual general meeting on 19 May.

However, six Labour councillors quit the party two months later, including Rumi Chowdhury who Saleem had picked in her first executive team, leaving the authority under no overall control for the first time in 19 years.

Saleem said: "There wasn't any inkling they were about to leave, just that they were unhappy but there was nothing I could have done because there was no discussion with me beforehand."

On 3 September, opposition parties joined forces to challenge Saleem's leadership.

"I was told by one of the Liberal Democrats and I was not surprised as they had the numbers, but I was disappointed that ex-Labour colleagues would do that when they'd said they'd work with us," Saleem said.

On 14 September a motion to remove her was carried by 26 votes to 21 with one abstainer.

"I was devastated, I think we all were, but we knew it was going to happen as a Labour group and we were together and dignified and I was very proud of the Labour group that night."

Two of the six who quit are back in new leader Amjid Ali's executive team, including Rob Roche who is deputy leader and two have become the town's first Green Party councillors.

Roche claimed he resigned from the party because Simmons had been "forced out" of her leadership role.

He said: "We met one Sunday afternoon in July and decided that day we would leave together and form an Independent group to consider the next move.

"The decision was spontaneous although the only doubt was when."

In July a spokesperson for Labour East said: "We can confirm there was a National Executive Committee led process earlier this year that was conducted in line with Labour Party policies and procedures."

Saleem remains leader of the Labour opposition on the authority and pledged to "hold the current administration to account" with the prospect of a full council election in 2027.

She said: "In four months we made a huge difference and we've invested £2m into litter and fly-tipping and £3m so all our parks are being refreshed. Anti-social behaviour enforcement is up by 300% so I'm really proud.

"I feel grief for the fact we weren't allowed to continue to the elections and feel the electorate were cheated of those last few months that we could have had and then the electorate could have decided whether or not we'd done a good job."

Although Labour no longer have full control, they are four gains away from recapturing the authority next May when all 48 councillors will be up for election.

Saleem said: "When I became leader it was a huge responsibility and I felt it weighing me down, but it was such a huge opportunity as well.

"I saw what kind of difference you can make so I would welcome the opportunity in May 2027 to stand again and if I were re-elected, I would absolutely do it again."

Ali added: "Since taking over the Lib Dem led coalition is stronger together for Luton."

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