A NEWLY-ELECTED councillor has been suspended from her party.

Just over one month after winning her seat in a blaze of publicity, Ellen Osa (Lab, Walcot) has had her membership of the Labour Party frozen and is under investigation by party colleagues.

She hailed the win in May was hailed as a ‘historic moment’, because it had made her Swindon’s first black female councillor.

Coun Osa would not speak to the Adver yesterday, and the Labour Party would not issue any more than a bare statement.

But it is understood that the move is to do with Cou Osa allegedly not disclosing information about her fitness to be a councillor at the time of the selection process.

In a statement, Labour leader Jim Grant (Western), said: “Councillor Osa’s membership with the Labour Party has been suspended, pending further investigations.

“She will no longer hold the Labour Party whip on the council, and is not permitted to represent the Labour Party or hold office within the Labour Party until further notice.”

Coun Osa still holds her post as a councillor and can vote at meetings.

But, for the time being at least, she is acting effectively as an independent politician, rather than a Labour party member.

Coun Osa, of Denholme Road, Park South, sits on the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the East Swindon Cluster group, and the Equalities Advisory Forum, the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education, and its Agreed Syllabus Conference group.

She made headlines last month after sweeping to victory in the former all-Tory ward of Walcot.

The previously unknown political figure, originally from war-torn West African state of Liberia, won by a landslide against senior Tory cabinet member Peter Mallinson.

Her election profile, published in the Adver at the time of her campaign, read: “I have lived in Swindon for 10 years.

“After graduation in Liberia I left to further my education in the Netherlands and England.

“I run my own business in Swindon.

“I am chair of two voluntary organisations, an active member of other voluntary groups in Swindon and currently study at Oxford Brookes University.”

Speaking to the Adver at the time of her victory she pledged: “The people’s voice is very important to me.

“I’m here to do the right thing for the people.”