News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Labour calls for an ‘outbreak of democracy’ over election of new council Leader

Labour Westminster Councillors say that the prospect of the election of a new Leader of Westminster City Council by just 48 Conservative Councillors, 47 of whom consistently voted to support outgoing Leader Colin Barrow’s failed West End parking charge plans, is an ‘insult to democracy’. Labour say that the new Leader of the Council should be elected by all 250,000 Westminster residents and open to candidates from all political parties.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said; “Confining the election of the next Leader of Westminster City Council to 48 out-of-touch Conservative Councillors is damaging for both democracy and for the credibility of the Council.

“Everything is shrouded in secrecy and mystery. Nobody knows who is standing for election. None of the likely candidates have issued a ‘manifesto’ setting out their values and priorities. And nobody knows whether any of the ’seven dwarfs’ who have been mentioned as possible candidates would do things any differently than Colin Barrow.

“The only people who get a say on who will be Leader of one of the most important Councils in the country are 48 Conservatives – 47 of whom, like sheep, supported the failed West End parking plans without a word of dissent. Is this really the way to inspire confidence in the future of Westminster after the appalling West End parking fiasco?

“Westminster Council is like the Titanic, with the 48 Conservative Councillors acting as the deckchairs, waiting to be re-arranged as the Council’s reputation sinks further below the waves.

“All over the world, people are demanding a say in who their Leaders are. But in Westminster the Conservatives are keeping all the power and decisions to themselves. What we need is an outbreak of democracy with a full-blown election for a new Leader involving all Westminster residents and a full slate of candidates from all shades of political opinion.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

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• Minister must get tough with Westminster Council over "unacceptable and unlawful" temporary housing - 5 February 2013
• West End Actors join fight to save Westminster Council's arts and culture budget - 5 February 2013