Ex-Wolverhampton Mayor Expelled from Labour Over False Marine Claims

The political career of former Wolverhampton mayor Greg Brackenridge has been left in tatters after a damning official report found he repeatedly lied about his military service for "personal aggrandisement and political gain." The revelations have led to his expulsion from the local Labour group, with councillors from all parties demanding he resign his seat immediately.

A 56-page dossier, classified as "strictly private and confidential" but seen by The Telegraph, concluded that Mr. Brackenridge, 54, cultivated a false impression that he was a Royal Marine veteran who served in the elite 45 Commando unit alongside Gurkhas. The report found that his behaviour constituted a "betrayal of trust and an act of deception."

Mr. Brackenridge, the husband of Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, Sureena Brackenridge, has been at the centre of a "stolen valour" scandal. He was exposed after making public speeches and using election materials that claimed a decorated military career. During the unveiling of a Sikh soldier statue in September 2021, he stated, "I served as a Royal Marine myself when I left school and I worked with members of the Sikh community in the Armed Forces and people from all around the world, the Nepalese, the Gurkhas."

The investigation, prompted by a formal complaint, confirmed that Mr. Brackenridge only completed 30 of the 32 weeks of basic training before leaving in 1988 for "personal family reasons." He never passed the rigorous commando course or earned the coveted green beret, and therefore "did not have the right to be called Marine Brackenridge." The report found his claims to be misleading, showing "disrespect and dishonour" to those who have genuinely served.

Despite repeated pleas, Mr. Brackenridge refused to cooperate with the council's investigation. He has now been ordered to issue a public apology to the Armed Forces community, though a recent attempt was rejected by the council's regulatory and ethics committee for being "watered down."

In a significant escalation of the consequences, the local Labour Party has now expelled Mr. Brackenridge, who previously served as chair of the West Midlands Fire Authority before his resignation over the claims. He now sits as an independent councillor. At a recent full council meeting, councillors from across the political spectrum unanimously condemned his actions, with one stating, "Everything he told you (about his military service) has turned out to be a lie." Council leader Stephen Simkins confirmed the Labour group had "thrown him out of their ranks."

The scandal has also cast a shadow over his wife, Sureena Brackenridge, the newly elected MP for Wolverhampton North East, who is facing calls to reveal what she knew about her husband's deceptions. Election campaign leaflets used during her campaign claimed her husband had earned the green beret. Mrs. Brackenridge has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The scandal highlights a breach of the council's code of conduct and has sparked frustration among local authority leaders who say their powers to sanction such behaviour are limited. While the council cannot force his resignation, councillors urged him to "do the right thing and step down" from his position.