News from Brent Labour

Leaked letters reveal racial tensions inside Brent Lib Dems

A leading Liberal Democrat councillor in Brent has accused his own party of racial and religious discrimination, letters and emails passed to Labour Matters expose.

The leaked correspondence shows that the former Deputy Mayor of Brent, Councillor Chunilal Chavda, has repeatedly written to the national President of the Liberal Democrats, Baroness Scott, detailing his claims that fellow Lib Dem councillors have discriminated against him because he is a “brown skinned Hindu”.

Two particular members of the Liberal Democrat group on Brent Council, Valerie and Daniel Brown who are mother and son, come in for particular criticism from Councillor Chavda who wrote in an email to all Brent Liberal Democrat councillors, the local MP Sarah Teather, and Brent Party Chair Deborah Sutherland:

“First it was the son. Now its Mother.”

Ending the email by declaring: “racism in Brent Liberal Democrats is alive and kicking – pure and simple.”

Councillor Chunilal Chavda appears to have been upset by an email forwarded to two of his ward colleagues on 27 September 2007, but not himself, by Councillor Valerie Brown which questioned impromptu celebrations in Ealing Road after India beat Pakistan at cricket. The leaked correspondence also appears to show that another Asian Lib Dem councillor, Pawan Gupta, assisted Chuni Chavda by forwarding him the email which Valerie Brown failed to send him.

Another email, this time from Councillor Chavda (which we only have a partial copy of), recounts a conversation between himself and Councillor Daniel Brown, in the company of Sarah Teather MP and others, in which Councillor Chavda was asked to deliver some leaflets in the ward they share responsibility for with Councillor James Allie. Councillor Chavda agreed to deliver the leaflets once he had been provided with a list of Liberal Democrat volunteers in the ward, a request which was repeatedly refused by Councillor Daniel Brown.

“I also told them [Sarah Teather MP and Councillor James Allie] that it is obvious that Councillor Daniel Brown wants me to do the donkey work only,” the email says. In an apparent reference to Sarah Teather MP who wears a sari to Hindu events like Diwali, Councillor Chavda says: “Wearing saris at Hindu functions is not what we want – what we want is equality and fairness. This is our right.”

In the third of at least six letters to the Liberal Democrat’s national President, Baroness Scott, accusing Brent Liberal Democrats of racism, Councillor Chavda complains that a letter to residents of Burnside Crescent, Wembley, from the local Liberal Democrat Focus Team was signed only by Councillor Daniel Brown and Councillor James Allie, but again not from himself, saying:

“Why Chuni Chavda’s name has been left out? Because racist Brent Liberal Democrats want to de-select Chuni Chavda for the 2010 council elections.”

Councillor Ann M John, OBE, Leader of the Labour Group, told Labour Matters:

“Chuni Chavda has been a councillor for more than 20 years so I am sure he would not make such allegations lightly. Brent Lib Dems seem to spend most of their time making personal attacks on Dawn Butler – the only elected black woman minister – and now they have been accused of racism by one of their own councillors. I trust his allegations have been fully investigated and appropriate action taken.”

View the leaked correspondence: [pdf]
Letter to the Liberal Democrat’s President 4 February 2009
Letter to the Liberal Democrat’s President 5 February 2009 and the letter to residents of Burnside Crescent, Wembley
Letter to the Liberal Democrat’s President 19 February 2009 and forwarded email
Partial email from Chuni Chavda 4 February 2009
All of the above in one file

Other news from Brent Labour

• Glenda Jackson slams Brent Lib Dems for closure of Kilburn 'In2 Work' centre - 8 February 2010
• Brent Lib Dems lack the grit to deal with big freeze - 14 January 2010
• It's snow joke, Brent Lib Dems fail to show grit - 22 December 2009