Labour MP’s husband urged to quit Wolverhampton council over stolen‑valor claims

A Wolverhampton City Council inquiry concluded that Greg Brackenridge, a former mayor and councillor, repeatedly exaggerated his military past and created the impression that he had served as a Royal Marine commando, breaching the local authority’s code of conduct. The 56‑page report, described as strictly private and confidential, found the claims were made for personal aggrandisement and political gain and that they brought disrepute on the council. Brackenridge, 54, now sits as an independent on the council and has repeatedly refused to engage with the inquiry despite multiple requests.

Brackenridge has long referenced his military background in public settings. He told colleagues and voters that he served in 45 Commando and at times wore a green beret. Local officials say he was photographed on council business with Iraq War veterans badges and a Royal Marines Corps tie. He also referenced his service during the unveiling of a statue of a Sikh soldier in Wolverhampton in September 2021, at which he asserted his military past, portraying it as substantial and enduring. The council’s findings clarify that he never passed out from Royal Marine training; he left after 30 weeks of a 32‑week course in 1988, departing for what he described as personal family reasons, and attained only the rank of recruit.

The inquiry concluded he did not have the right to be called Marine Brackenridge or to claim to have toured with 45 Commando. It said he showed disrespect and dishonour to genuine servicemen and women and their families through this deception for personal and political gain. The findings also stated he brought disrepute on the council and his position. Brackenridge was suspended from the Labour Party in October last year but was readmitted four months later with a formal warning over his conduct. He was suspended again by his party in July after the council’s investigation.

During a recent full council meeting, which Brackenridge did not attend, representatives across parties criticized him for diluting the apology they had sought from him. Labour councillor Rita Potter, who presented the findings, said the council would not accept his revised apology and noted there is no mechanism to suspend him through its current processes. Her colleague, Linda Leach, urged Brackenridge to do the right thing and resign independently. It is understood he has written to the council leader indicating an intention to step down in May 2026.

Council leader Stephen Simkins, a fellow Labour member, said Brackenridge had let the city down and called for changes to the law so councillors who breach the code of conduct can face stiffer penalties. Conservative councillor Wendy Dalton also pressed for his resignation, reading a veteran’s statement that said Brackenridge had let himself, his peers and his service down and should do the right thing. Local Conservative leader Simon Bennett, part of the subcommittee that investigated the ex‑mayor, questioned the transparency of Brackenridge’s revised apology.

Brackenridge, who has also served as chair of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, publicly defended his right to use the term “former Royal Marine” late last year, telling BirminghamLive that his military career had helped him serve his community. He described receiving threatening messages amid online rumors about his service and said he planned to pursue a formal MoD inquiry into the matter, including possible GDPR concerns about the handling of his service records.

The council has reiterated that the code of conduct process applies to allegations against councillors and that the authorities have sought comment from Brackenridge and his wife, Wolverhampton North East MP Sureena Brackenridge, who is also a former mayor of the city. The Brackenridges’ son, Ciaran Brackenridge, is a Labour councillor for the same ward, adding another family link to local governance under scrutiny.

Sureena Brackenridge did not publicly address the findings in the immediate wake of the report, and opposition voices have urged her to clarify what she knew about her husband’s claims. The party has not disclosed any direct comment from her on the investigation, but the episode has intensified questions about transparency and accountability among local representatives in Wolverhampton.

The city’s political leadership emphasizes that the code of conduct framework governs such cases and that the council will continue to pursue appropriate remedies within its powers. In the coming weeks, officials are expected to review whether any legislative changes are required to empower councils to sanction members more effectively for breaches of truthfulness and integrity in public service.