With some of the old guard leaving and a host of new comers to the Labour Group of Brent Council there appears to have been a political shift in its composition. The recent elections to officer positions within the group indicated a more finely balanced division between Butt loyalists and those with a left of centre or unaligned approach.
The results varied for the various posts but the gap between loyalists and the rest was often only 3 or 4 votes. At this stage, with many councillors new to the role and politically untested, it is hard to assess the size and consistency of the left of centre/unaligned group but the voting indicated 20 plus out of a total of 49 Labour councillors. This is an advance on the previous administration. Butt is likely to deploy his powers of patronage to try and subdue any potential critics.
As readers will know the number of positions on the council directly elected by the Labour Group has been reduced by Muhammed Butt with most now appointed by him. The Scrutiny Committee is interesting as the chair role is elected by the group but the vice chair, after the council AGM, appointed by Butt. Kilburn councillor Rita Conneely won 21-17 against Rita Begum for the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny chair while Ketan Sheth surprised with a large majority over Begum and Robert Johnson for the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny chair. Cllr Butt appointed Janice Long as vice chair of Resources and Diane Collymore vice chair of Commumnity.
Mili Patel won the deputy leader position with 26 votes followed by Daniel Kennely and Ellie Southwood with 23 between them. The leadership of the group was not contested.
8 comments:
It would have been better for Labour if the Leadership had been contested too. 10 years in power is long enough!
Too long
Yes but. Power primarily rests with the Cabinet and Mo Butt. The left only won one of the 10 Cabinet positions, maybe the best indication of the mountain they have to climb if they are to change Brent Council.
Hopefully Starmer sends his labour hit squad into brent to then turn it around
If only we could get rid of Butt's Pink Tories who are ruining Brent.
Robert Johnson, former Chief Executive of South Kilburn New Deal for Communities- council in partnership with residents and first masterplan, with its local infrastructure themes of health, environment, youth, employment, education, widening participation, race and equalities....
How did Brent get to South Kilburn Drowning by Numbers (housing the only infrastructure for housing) 2022?
What do you expect
Edited comment from a reader: It does appear Cllr Johnson has was champion for Granville, the one with a £20 million black hole for Brent which all the Council Social Housing tenants will have to pay back plus interest. And of course Butt and Mcle blame anyone but themselves even though it happened on their watch. Of course Southwood and Tatlercas just as culpable.
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