The Dispatch

Councillor Simon Morrall says he's a Conservative. The party says he's not ‘They wanted to destroy my career’

Cllr Morrall has accused "male members" of Birmingham Conservatives of being "corrupt". He says he's "currently seeking legal advice".

Ok - but is he in the party and does he plan to stand for re-election in 2026? Read our attempt to get answers here. /

A catch up: Cllr Morrall was suspended from the Conservatives after a stalking and harassment charge in 2023. He was convicted of harassment in 2024.

He's still a councillor and says he's also a Conservative. Brum Conservatives say differently.

Did you catch our story yesterday about the curious case of the (maybe?) Conservative councillor in Frankley Great Park?

Northfield MP Laurence Turner says he's written to the Conservative Party as a result of our story, asking for clarity on Simon Morrall's membership status.

Ah, that's amazing news! Welcome to the full Dispatch experience

Councillor Simon Morrall says he's a Conservative. The party says he's not ‘They wanted to destroy my career’

What transpired was a bizarre saga, involving an incensed phone call and threats of legal action against his - former? current? - party.

Still, Simon Morrall says he has been re-admitted into the Conservatives. Birmingham’s Conservatives seem less sure. What’s going on?

Big development in our story today...

Councillor Simon Morrall says he's a Conservative. The party says he's not ‘They wanted to destroy my career’

And he makes some bombastic claims about 'male members' of the Birmingham Conservatives.

“There is no other word to desribe [sic] that other than corrupt".

But is Morrall still in the party? Well. Read on to find out.

As for Birmingham's Conservatives? They don't seem to know either. “Since he was expelled, he’s attempted to rejoin various Conservative associations across the city but has been refused membership each time,” one Tory councillor alleges.

But Morrall says he IS a member again.

However, his party status on the council website never changed. And with 2026 elections coming up, constituents wondered what was going on.

When we asked Morrall we first got a furious phone call and then some very confusing documents...

Despite calls post-conviction to step down, Cllr Morrall didn't and Birmingham City Council said his crime didn't meet the requirements for disqualification.

But Cllr Morrall was suspended as a Conservative member in 2023, and lost the whip, sitting as an Independent.

In 2024, Morrall pleaded guilty to a single charge of harassment. The court heard Morrall and his ex had a mostly 'secret' relationship, because of family 'disapproval'.

In documents seen by The Dispatch, it was claimed this animosity was due to them being a “Labour family”.

Until last year, Simon Morrall was a great hope for Birmingham’s Conservatives. He increased his vote share in 2022, when his party was waning nationally and locally.

This all changed in 2023, when Cllr Morrall was charged with the stalking and harassment of an ex-partner.

Councillor Simon Morrall says he's a Conservative. The party says he's not ‘They wanted to destroy my career’

What transpired was a bizarre saga, involving an incensed phone call and threats of legal action against his - former? current? - party.

Still, Simon Morrall says he has been re-admitted into the Conservatives. Birmingham’s Conservatives seem less sure. What’s going on?

When The Dispatch was asked to get to the bottom of a mystery - was Cllr Simon Morrall, convicted of harassment last year, back in the Conservatives and/or running for re-election in 2026? - we thought it would be an easy task.

We were wrong.

Councillor Simon Morrall says he's a Conservative. The party says he's not ‘They wanted to destroy my career’

"You’re not a journalist, you’re a political activist”.

I’m on the phone to Simon Morrall, councillor for Frankley Great Park. He is not very happy.

“I’m being completely honest with you, I don’t trust you, [...] I’m very confused about why you’re doing a hit piece on me.”

Hi Sarah, we're really sorry to see you go. We think we've done a lot of very in-depth and clear-eyed reporting around these issues. The headline was factual - Reform did accuse police of a cover-up and we explained why, with context in the article.

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