A tale of two Full Council motions affecting attitudes to Brent's diversity community and social cohesion

 

 

Wembley Matters recently covered a tale of two motions tabled for Monday's Full Council Meeting. LINK.

Brent Liberal Democrats  had called on the Conservative Group to withdraw a debate motion on migration with a focus on hotels housing asylum seekers.  Lorber argued for withdrawal because of the motion’s potential to undermine good community relations. He told Wembley Matters, ' The last thing Brent needs is incitement to protest outside any of the local hotels used and make the poor people inside fear for their lives.'

Before the Tory motion became public the Lib Dems had tabled  a motion Standing United against Racism and Xenophobia in Brent.

The Conservative Group refused to withdraw.

Labour tabled a 'friendly' amendment to the Lib Dem motion which the Lib Dems accepted. LINK What raised eyebrows was that the Conservatives supported the amended motion that was passed unanimously. A rare occurence of cross-party cooperation in defence of Brent's diversity and social cohesion.

The Conservative Motion Deterrence, Integration and Accommodation Impacts of IllegalImmigration on Brent was due to be discussed later and we wondered if it would be withdrawn in the light of the unanamity established and the recent far-right demonstration in London.

Not so, The Conservatives put their motion, and although some of the group seemed a little uneasy, the result was the debate you can see in the video extract above.