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| Barry Cheese (blue lapels) with Lib Dem comrades |
He was one of those, who also included former councillor Ann Hunter, who joined the Lib Dems in disgust at Blair's war-mongering and was impressed by the Lib Dem, and particularly Sarah Teather's opposition.
He still had many 'Old Labour' and trade unionist views and was vociferous on the closure of Central Middlesex A&E and the impact of the bedroom tax. He loudly applauded the SWP's Sarah Cox on the former and spoke out on the bedroom tax when speaking with a visiting group of Swedish councillors.
In June 2013 he surprised many by voting with Labour to give Christine Gilbert an extension as Chief Executive until after the May 2014 local elections, despite the opposition of the then Liberal Democrat leader. Paul Lorber's opposition to the extension. LINK
He was defeated in his ward in the May election and told me a few months ago he had left the Lib Dems.
I think he will find himself on the left of Brent Labour Party on many issues and I hope he will galvanise his new comrades to act on the current Human Resources scandal at Brent Council.
Barry Cheese lives in Brondesbury Park so he will be in Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party, rather than Brent Central.
ReplyDeleteWhy would he galvanise his Labour colleagues to act on the HR scandal when he voted with them to extend Gilbert's contract? Odd suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI can see that it appears so. I am not sure how thought out his support on Gilbert was. I would hope that his trade union principals would lead him to defend workers against racial discrimination, victimisation and constructive dismissal.
DeleteLike the rest of the Brent Labour Party?
DeleteThanks, I will amend,
ReplyDeleteOne other correction please. He didn't stand down at the last election, he stood, but was not elected.
ReplyDeleteThanks Martin!
So despite now being in different parties you do still have that in common with Barry, Alison
DeleteYour stalker's back, Alison.
DeleteA deposed LibDem councillor continuously posting on a blog run by a member of a rival political party? Who's the stalker here?
DeleteYour logic's lost us. And you mean 'continually'.
DeleteHe's just following the money......that's all
ReplyDeleteSimple, he misses that tax free 12K a year..........
Actually Barry Cheese was a well respected councillor and liked by people of all political persuasions.
ReplyDeleteHe's what you want your local councillor to be - genuinely prepared to help and makes an effort.
Not ambitious but honestly wants to help people, no guile at all.
Any party is lucky to have him.
Agree that any party is lucky to have him. Just that none of the main parties deserve him.
Delete18:56 - yes, spot on. Barry is a gentleman, although a certain Tory councillor doesn't think that way!
DeleteAs a former officer, I knew Barry Cheese to be an honourable man who spoke with (not AT) Council officers but possibly became frustrated with others in the Lib Dems and Tories, who seemed to be jealous of the then New Kid in Town. I was surprised that he moved on to support Labour, as he seems to have considered all the options. I wish him well, and will always remember him as a respectful man, known by many officers through his nickname - Helmut.
DeleteYou mean he had a cheesy helmut? Oooer missus!
Delete