Butt 'excited' about 'dynamic,energetic and talented' new Executive

In a statement released this morning following the Brent Labour Group AGM, Group and Council leader Muhammed Butt said:

I want to thank the outgoing Executive Members for the dedication to Brent and commitment to public service that they have shown. I am incredibly excited about starting work on Monday morning with our dynamic, energetic and talented new Executive. 

The Government has caused a recession, a dramatic fall in living standards for our residents and are implementing cuts to welfare that will devastate our community. We still have a lot of work to do to protect the people of Brent from this onslaught and I am confident that we have the best possible team to do so.

The new Executive now has 50% of its members from a Black and Ethnic Minority background compared to 30% previously and the average age has reduced to 46 from 60.  However three women lost their posts in the election and only two gained posts.

It is unclear whether there will be any political change of direction as a result of these changes and Muhammed Butt's statement concentrates on dynamism and energy rather than policy. It does appear to be more of a generational change than a shift to the left. However some Labour sources hope for a more robust approach to children's centres,  free schools and forced academies from Michael Pavey and a more proactive and sympathetic engagement on housing issues from Margaret McLennan. Michael Pavey will be talking to parents and carers at Gladstone Park Primary school tomorrow who are fighting forced academy status in a meeting arranged before Saturday's AGM.