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'Difficult time' for Labour
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| Cllr Julian Bell: Labour faces 'a difficult time' |
THE Labour party in Ealing has a new permanent leader.
Councillor Julian Bell, who represents the Greenford Broadway ward, beat off competition from Councillor Yvonne Johnson (South Acton) to win a vote at the party's annual general meeting last night (on Thursday night).
Former leader Sonika Nirwal left the job in April when she quit the council to have her second child, and interim leader Councillor Ranjit Dheer declined an invitation to carry on as group leader.
Cllr Bell said: "It's a big responsibility, not just in carrying on the work of the Labour group but in representing and speaking up for local people. I'm humbled by the responsibility.
"It is a difficult time for the party, but I think if you look at the result of last week's Greenford Broadway by-election, although we lost it was not an endorsement of the Conservative party.
"We've got a serious job to do in the next couple of years and we will be more active in representing the people and holding the council to account."
Cllr Bell, who is the parliamentary researcher to Virendra Sharma MP (Lab, Ealing Southall), said his priorities in Ealing were youth crime and championing the environment.
He said: "It's clear the things local people want to see are first to tackle crime and provide more services and activities for young people.
"I also want to be a champion of the environment, and looking at increasing recycling rates around the borough."
2:31pm Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Taj Virdee, Brent Road, Southall on 6:45am Sat 10 May 08
What happened to Dheer as the Leader...why was not Tej Bagha elected...that is clearly discrimination as Tej Bagha is simply the best!!!!!
What happened to Dheer as the Leader...why was not Tej Bagha elected...that is clearly discrimination as Tej Bagha is simply the best!!!!!
Posted by: Nigel Brooks, Hanwell on 9:51am Sat 10 May 08
"We've got a serious job to do in the next couple of years and we will be more active in representing the people and holding the council to account."
Perhaps if your party had done that while in power, it would still be in power. The lowest poll ratings ntionally since the second world war prove the point that Labour doesn't listen.
"We've got a serious job to do in the next couple of years and we will be more active in representing the people and holding the council to account."
Perhaps if your party had done that while in power, it would still be in power. The lowest poll ratings ntionally since the second world war prove the point that Labour doesn't listen.
Posted by: Bryn, Ealing on 10:44am Sat 10 May 08
'Perhaps if your party had done that while in power it would still be in power.'
I think this a little unfair Nigel. After 12 years of one party in power locally most people would just like to see a change regardless of how effective a particular party might/might not have been. However, that said, I do agree that both the local Labour and Tory parties have retained some very inactive councillors for far too long and these stale 'coasters' will have to go if we are to recapture any semblance of reponsive politics and local democracy in Ealing.
'Perhaps if your party had done that while in power it would still be in power.'
I think this a little unfair Nigel. After 12 years of one party in power locally most people would just like to see a change regardless of how effective a particular party might/might not have been. However, that said, I do agree that both the local Labour and Tory parties have retained some very inactive councillors for far too long and these stale 'coasters' will have to go if we are to recapture any semblance of reponsive politics and local democracy in Ealing.
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