The Labour selection of candidates for the 2026 borough election by a special force of assessors from outside the borough appointed by the London Region of the Labour Party, seems to be in trouble. Applicants, after a delay last week have now been told that interviews been not been rescheduled, despite hopes that selection would be completed by July 31st. No decisions have been made as yet and no rank and file Brent Labour Party members have been involved.
If that is not enough to get them biting their nails, applicants will be jumping through hoops for the assessors in order to demonstrate their skills. These do not include demonstrating their political thinking skills or their independence of thought.
Instead they will be expected to demonstrate their 'doorstep skills' by taking part in canvassing, their pavement pounding skills, by delivering leaflets and brown nosing skills by getting involved in local Labour Party branch meetings and other activities.
Currently Alperton ward has two Lib Dem councillors and one Labour, and was of course once the seat of much respected Lib Dem Anton Georgiou. What's more natural then than Labour organising a mass litter pick in, yes, you've guessed it, Alperton. Candidates will be able to show their prowess at community involvement (even if it is only for a couple of hours this weekend).
Following the exemplary self-promotion of Cllrs Muhammed Butt and Krupa Sheth applicants will be expected to 'share updates and successes' of Brent Labour and the Council on their social media as well as those of Sadiq Khan and the Labour government. Among the suggested targets is the community website Next Door.
I hope this helps you prepare for the onslaught and perhaps escape for a day at the seaside.
Meanwhile intense dissatisfaction with the imposed selection process has been rife, Here is an example shared to Labour Party members:
As the days and weeks pass by, we have no dates for interviews, no shortlist and no idea who our candidates will be. Contrast this with the 2022 election where the LCF produced a manifesto and shortlist, and the selection process was managed by our CLP and two lay members. They managed this in difficult circumstances as ward boundaries had been redrawn and this had delayed the process. Two lay members sacrificing their time and energy to ensure that we fielded strong candidates have outperformed the bureaucrats at the London Regional Labour Party who should be hanging their heads in shame. A tragedy and a farce and no way to treat lay members or potential councillors.
25 comments:
I’m in the Barn Hill ward & it’s very simple, do as I always do. If you’re not expecting someone or you don’t know the person at the front door then do not open to them. This should be standard procedure all year round.
I would welcome canvassers. Because that's the only time I can ever hold the mystical labour councillors that I apparently have to account for the gigantic mess in the borough.
I live in Wembley Central and I would welcome a visit from my “invisible” Labour Councillors so I could tell them how useless they are in keeping their promises do anything positive for my area. The streets around Ealing Road are full of drinkers and spitters and Labour have turned our area into a cesspit full of rubbish and neglect. Makes no difference who Labour select - their Councillors are clueless.
Yet again not one of our three Wembley Central Councillors attended the Wembley Central Police Safer Neighbourhood meeting last week, despite them being specifically invited again- seems that they really have no interest in our local area.
Was it not Labour Councillors who closed the original Public Kensal Rise Library? Bit cheeky to be posing outside the Community Library after all the trouble Labour caused.
Prospective Labour councillors assessed on ability to knock doors makes sense. They need to know who they will disappoint if elected.
It is all very well to criticise and joke about Labour and next year's local elections, but many people will still vote for whichever candidates they put forward, just because they have "Labour Party" beside their name.
That is very unfair. The Labour Councillors for Wembley Central are very keen to get elected and collect their large allowances. The only thing they are NOT interested in doing is any actual work for local people.
What the police have ever done for us is the bigger question
“Large” allowances has to be a joke 😂
Canvassing is so old fashioned in this digital / technical age
Yes let's have AI generated local Councillors and Council Officers - surely be more cost effective and efficient? 😉
Plus facial recognition cameras at hot spot areas for fly tipping, street drinking, littering, paan spitting, illegal parking etc
It's this digital/technical/work from home age which is causing a lot of problems - people sitting behind a screen miles making excuses for doing nothing.
The new change in the Labour Party selection process should stop prospective Labour candidates recruiting members with absolutely no allegiance to the Labour Party nor understanding of what the Party stands for, but what these persons do have an allegiance to family, religion or country of origin. It's quite odd, that whichever method the Labour Party uses to select candidates, it is extremely likely that the majority of thoses selected will no comprehension of what the labour Party is about, nor its founding values. It is likely that they will be thoughtless votes for the leadership. A sad day for Britain if you ask me.
Brent Councillor Allowances are more than a lot of hardworking Brent residents earn in a year, see here: https://www.brent.gov.uk/-/media/files/council-and-democracy-documents/council-reps/members-allowance-scheme.pdf?rev=15ee8b7e96fb4bc09f87b2783ca2f1e8
£13,637 is more than a lot of hardworking Brent residents earn in a year?!
Well it probably would be more cost effective to use social media etc.! Certainly more efficient than spending hours knocking on doors compromising their own safety if some of the comments on this blog are anything to go by.
If they’re assessing Brent Labour councillors on ability, then nobody will make the grade
Is that Matt Halcher of Harlesden ward in the photo? I honestly don't understand how he can canvass or doorknock when he could well be one of the rudest, most abrupt people I've ever met. I guess he turns it on for the hierarchy and not for the little folk
You'd be surprised at the new blood coming through now the branches and CLP corruption has been removed from the process, better Labour better councillors
Pointless having these threads if the replies are being censored makes the whole thing a joke
Hi Anonymous 17.01 If you are objecting to comments not being published that make personal attacks on identifiable individuals (not councillors) without any evidence cited then hard luck. I do publish comments that conform to the Guidelines even if I do not agree with them. There is far more commenting on here than on the Kilburn Times webpage or Facebook: Comments are approved unless abusive, obscene, completely off the subject (or off the wall), disguised advertising or libellous. As I want to encourage public debate publication of a guest post or comment does not imply that I agree with it. Comments may be edited to conform with guidelines.
Everything i said was fact and is documented as im sure you are aware, but due to your lib dem bias i can understand you blocking free speech.
I've never voted Lib Dem in my life! It is not clear what comment you are referring to. Please submit again, under your own name and I will consider publishing it. Perhaps also send the documentation?
Anyone mentioned that the lib dems on leaflets this weekend are claiming anton as a councillor still even though he lives in york pity cant put the leaflet up on here
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