Latest news with #LabourGroup
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Worcestershire members too ill to meet should resign says leader
A council leader has been asked to clarify her comments after suggesting councillors who are too ill to attend meetings should UK Councillor Jo Monk made the remarks in her first meeting leading Worcestershire County a debate on using substitutes in scrutiny panel meetings, which is when a member can send someone in their place, Monk said: "I've sat for the last four years witnessing people coming and going when they felt like it."Richard Udall, leader of the council's Labour group, said: "We need to know to whom she was referring and what she intends to do to implement any policy changes." Monk had said: "When you sign up to be a councillor, it's something you should take very seriously and if you sit on more than one panel, you have to ask why – are they going to conflict? And if they do, you shouldn't be sat on all of those panels."If you have health issues that are that serious then perhaps you should resign." Council staff 'worried' Udall said: "I think she was only talking about councillors, which is in itself surprising as she only had a 60% attendance record in the last council due to ill health."He added council staff were now "very worried about what Reform UK in charge may mean to them". In response, Monk said her comments were made "in reference to some councillors who take on paid positions and then consistently and over a long period of time do not attend those meetings due to a number of reasons, one of which being long-term ill-health".She said they had not been aimed at those who missed "the odd meeting".Any effort to link her comments to council staff was "scaremongering", she said. The council's website states councillors are not paid a salary, but do receive allowances for time and expenses involved in carrying out duties. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow former Labour deputy on bowing out of leadership contest
Councillor Rashid Hussain has been elected as the party's new leader while Councillor John Carson was chosen as deputy – replacing Bailie Siddique at an AGM on Tuesday. Southside Central councillor Siddique said she bowed out of the contest due to additional barriers that come with being a Muslim woman in politics. Reacting to the new appointments, Councillor Siddique said: 'Congratulations to the new leadership team. Thank you Labour and Glasgow for trusting me as deputy leader. I've felt the glass ceiling, but I'm still here fighting for real Labour values. READ MORE: Council paying out over £32m per year after equal pay settlement 'To BAME women, you belong in politics.' She told the LDRS: 'I chose not to run for the group leader because being a BAME woman in politics often means navigating unnecessary additional barriers. 'As divisive voices grow louder, I believe more than ever that our politics, especially at the local level, needs strong vocal labour voices. That is exactly what I intend to be. I would like to thank the members of the Labour Group and party who have supported me.' Dr Siddique, who has a PhD in cancer research, said she hopes her presence will encourage another 'hijab wearing female' to enter politics. READ MORE: Glasgow English teacher boasted about the size of his manhood, court hears Explaining more about her background, she said: 'I'm the daughter of migrant parents, raised in a tenement in Anderston and the first in my family to go to university. I never set out to be a career politician but I couldn't stay silent in the face of injustice. Breaking the glass ceiling as a woman of colour has meant facing racism, Islamophobia, and misogyny, not just in society but within the political party system itself. ' She added: 'When I ask why I carry on, it's because I hope another hijab wearing female from a not-so-privileged background will step forward and put her name on the ballot. We can't afford to let politics be dragged backwards by the forces of populist parties, people like me demand a voice in the politics of today.' New deputy leader of the Labour group, Councillor Carson, said: 'I'd like to pay tribute to our outgoing depute leader, Soriya Siddique, who has performed the role with class and dignity over the past three years—particularly while confronting some of the worst prejudices still faced by our BAME communities.' Greater Pollok councillor Hussain was replacing former leader George Redmond, who decided to step aside.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City councillor resigns from Labour group
A Nottingham councillor has quit the Labour Party to sit as an independent. City councillor AJ Matsiko, who represents the Sherwood ward, announced his resignation on Monday. Matsiko was suspended at the beginning of April, having posted a statement on social media alleging party officials had engaged in "unacceptable" behaviour at a local Labour Group meeting. A Labour spokesperson said the party did not comment on internal processes, but added its councillors in Nottingham would continue to focus on "rebuilding the council's finances and delivering for our residents". Matsiko told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had stood down following two key incidents. These include the rejection of a motion to stop three city libraries being handed over to voluntary groups at a meeting in January, and the "repeated imposition of leadership roles". "After witnessing the lack of democracy and basic decency within the leadership of the Nottingham Labour Group, I have concluded that now is the appropriate time to leave the majority group and serve as an independent councillor," he said. "The group has abandoned the core principles of the Labour Party, such as natural justice and sound democratic processes as well as continuing to make poor financial and other decisions." Matsiko also criticised the process of selecting the authority's new leader, Neghat Khan, and deputy leader Ethan Radford Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) stepped in to oversee the election of the leadership. Potential candidates were interviewed and suitable applicants were due to be presented to the Labour Group for the final decision. However, the NEC only selected Khan as a suitable candidate and she was installed as the new leader ahead of the meeting. The Nottingham Labour Group referred to the statement from the Labour Party spokesperson when contacted for comment. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. How council reorganisation became an election battle Is there a local election in my area and where can I vote? New leader chosen for struggling council Local Democracy Reporting Service Nottingham City Council
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Tory chief Martin Dowey urged to 'step aside' as South Ayrshire Council leader by Labour group
South Ayrshire Council leader, Martin Dowey, has been urged to stand aside while cops probe allegations he promised to help "pals" win multi-million pound contracts. In a bombshell recording which emerged yesterday , Tory council chief Dowey was heard branding his officials as 'f***ing useless' and boasted: 'All the top ones I can sack.' Opposition politicians have now rounded on Dowey, insisting his position to lead the authority is "untenable". Dowey has denied any wrongdoing following the emergence of the tape from 2023, which appears to record him telling a businessman that he can help him win work - including a deal to demolish the former Station Hotel. Police have confirmed they have received correspondence in relation to the meeting which is 'currently being assessed' by officers. Duncan Townson, who heads the council's Labour Group, said the probe made Dowey's position as leader untenable. He said this morning: "In order to protect the reputation of the Council during the investigation, Cllr Dowey has no choice but to step aside and allow another councillor from within his Group, not linked in anyway to the ongoing investigations, to take over leadership at this time, due to the very serious nature of the allegations. In short I believe his position at this time is untenable." Labour MSP, Carol Mochan, added: "There is no justification for this. It degrades trust in the council. His position is untenable."
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Veteran councillor quits 'immoral' Labour Party
A highly respected veteran councillor has quit the Labour Party accusing it of "losing its moral compass" under the leadership of Keir Starmer. John Warmisham, who has been a Salford councillor for 34 years resigned his membership last night. His decision will be a major blow to the local party as well as an embarrassment for the national one. In a letter to Salford's City Mayor, Paul Dennett, explaining his decision his says: "I feel I have no option but to resign from the Labour Party, a party that through this current national leadership has lost its moral compass and no longer represents the communities that it was set up to serve." Councillor Warmisham, 66, became a councillor in 1991 and went on to hold key posts including chairman of education, then chair of housing and chair of social services. He is currently chairman of the city's licensing and development panel. READ MORE: Metrolink extension to FOUR new towns called for in Parliament READ MORE: The Lazy Sunday Quiz: Test your general knowledge with these 10 questions - March 23, 2025 In his letter to Mr Dennett, he adds: "Cutting the welfare benefits to the disabled, the sick, the poor and the vulnerable, whilst committing billions of pounds to arms and supporting wars is immoral, as well as government ministers pushing pensioners, families and children further into poverty. "This in no way reflects on you or the Labour Group who have stuck and continue to do so, to the socialist principles that the Labour Party was founded on. "I will continue to serve my current term of office out as an Independent Socialist and represent the people of Pendleton and Charlestown Ward, who I care for very much, in the city I love." Flying in the face of Labour's national policy to cut Winter Fuel benefit to some pensioners, Salford City Council diverted some of its funds to make sure all Salford people who were entitled to it in the city received it. Politically Coun Warmisham is on the left of the party, as is Mr Dennett, and the city's MP, Rebecca Long Bailey, who was deputy to former Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Councillor Warmisham had already announced that he intended to step down from local politics and not seek re-election in 2026. Born in Higher Broughton, Salford, Councillor Warmisham, lives in the city, in nearby Broughton Park. He has been a key member of the ruling Labour Group in the city for three decades, but has a reputation for speaking his mind even if it clashes with local or national policy. His background is steeped in the trade union movement. At age 16, he became a shop steward for apprentices working for the Manchester Direct Works Department. He was a union rep for 16 years. For 12 years he has served on the European Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and became leader of the UK delegation. A life-long Manchester United fan, he switched his allegiance to FC United after the Reds were taken over by the Glazer brothers.
