A third Labour member has resigned after members of the party were suspended without explanation.

Keith Adkinson, who was a borough councillor for the party on Maidstone council for nine years until 2020, has stepped down.

Mr Adkinson was given an “administrative suspension” from the Labour party on March 16 this year, but he has not been able to find out why.

Despite repeated requests to the party’s governance and disciplinary unit, he said: “I have still not been informed of the nature of the dispute which has led to my suspension, nor who is accusing me of whatever it is alleged that I have done wrong.”

He is not the only victim, with two other sitting Labour councillors – Paul Harper and Patrick Coates – resigning earlier this month after they too were suspended without explanation. They are now sitting under the banner of Fant and Oakwood Independents.

Mr Adkinson wrote to the part group, saying: “These unwarranted suspensions have led to the resignations of several members of Fant and Bridge Labour party. To my knowledge, your precipitate and unwarranted actions have led to the resignations of at least seven members of the local Labour party.

“To this number should now be added myself.”

“It is a decision I have made with great difficulty and soul-searching, having been a loyal and hard-working member and campaigner for over 30 years, including nine years as a Labour councillor.

“However, I can no longer belong to a party which treats its members with such contempt, considering them guilty until proven innocent - which goes against the rules of natural justice.”

A Labour party spokesman said: "The Labour party takes all complaints seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken."

Two weeks ago, the group also suspended the whip from sitting Tunbridge Wells councillor Ray Moon – a lifelong member after attended a screening of a film supportive of Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, who is now persona non-grata and has himself been suspended by Kier Starmer’s party.