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A Conservative councillor has defected to Labour over cuts to the government's school building programme.
Elaine Costigan, of Sandwell Council, said the community had been treated with "utter contempt" and she was "ashamed to be a Conservative".
Nine schools in Sandwell were told they would receive refurbishment money, only to be informed a day later the projects were being scrapped.
Schools Secretary Michael Gove was heavily criticised for the fiasco.
Ms Costigan, who is deputy leader of the Conservative group at the council, said: "This community has been treated with utter contempt by the government over the slashing of the school building programme and when Michael Gove backed out of his promise to come and apologise to the parents, pupils and staff he had so badly let down, I felt ashamed to be a Conservative."
Ray Nock, Conservative leader of Sandwell Council, responded: "Only weeks ago Councillor Costigan was openly attacking local Labour Party policies.
"It has totally shocked me that she has now jumped ship and joined the very party that introduced the policies that got the country into the mess we're currently in."
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A Conservative councillor has defected to Labour over cuts to the government's school building programme.
Elaine Costigan, of Sandwell Council, said the community had been treated with "utter contempt" and she was "ashamed to be a Conservative".
Nine schools in Sandwell were told they would receive refurbishment money, only to be informed a day later the projects were being scrapped.
Schools Secretary Michael Gove was heavily criticised for the fiasco.
Ms Costigan, who is deputy leader of the Conservative group at the council, said: "This community has been treated with utter contempt by the government over the slashing of the school building programme and when Michael Gove backed out of his promise to come and apologise to the parents, pupils and staff he had so badly let down, I felt ashamed to be a Conservative."
Ray Nock, Conservative leader of Sandwell Council, responded: "Only weeks ago Councillor Costigan was openly attacking local Labour Party policies.
"It has totally shocked me that she has now jumped ship and joined the very party that introduced the policies that got the country into the mess we're currently in."
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.