Last night 60 or so Conservative Party members attended the third stage of selections for 2026 candidates for the May 2026 Kenton ward. The move followed allegations that Harrow East MP, Bob Blackman, had intervened to secure the nomination of current councillor Michael Maurice at an earlier stage.
Last night's procedure was described as very professional and well run. In the event neither veteran Conservative Leader Suresh Kansagra nor Michael Maurice were selected, although Maurice did try and come back for another go after being voted down. 'He just didn't get the message,' a participant commented.
Cllr Sunita Hirani was re-selected and the new candidates are Sai Karthik Madabhushi, campaign head of Conservative Friends of India, and local company director Anup Patel. Madabhuhsi previously fought elections in Barnhill and Wembley Central wards.
Cllr Kansagra has many years of service, first being elected in 1998. Cllr Maurice was first elected in 2015.
An observer remarked, 'At least Conservative Party members had a say in their candidate selection.'
Who's standing in Wembley Central?
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter? It’s going to be between Labour and Lib Dems there, I think. Tories come and go, no consistent campaigning.
DeleteIt will only be between Labour and Libdems if Reform stand. Labour is a long shot and it is doubtful the Libdems will even try
ReplyDeleteThe 'Soap Opera' in Kent and Cornwall show Reform are a Joke. Constant in fighting and total incompetence by their newly elected Councillors. Reform are expelling their Councillors or they resign as they abuse each other. Brent needs some competent Leadership to get it out of the current mess not a bunch of inexperienced circus clowns.
DeleteRe ANon 5 November 2025 at 19:03 - it's a real shame there isn't a "competent Leadership, (current or in waiting), to get it out of the current mess not a bunch of inexperienced circus clowns" Brent is in a real mess, just ask the residents.
DeleteEdited to conform with guidelines: It's not over until its over. May be on top for now but wait for the Kansagra/Maurice fight back. The dirt will start flying soon as the shenanigans of the newly formed Kenton Residents Association and the involvement of Council Officers in its formation are exposed.
ReplyDeleteThe editing makes no sense. Who is on top? - and what has Theresa "May" got to do with it?
DeleteWell worth attending the Council Meeting on 10 November to the 'united' Tories behave. Which faction will their 'principled' ex Labour convert join? Is Kanta Mistry safe now that she stuck her neck out for Maurice or is she for a chop too?
ReplyDeleteWith all these Labour and Tory in fighting shenanigans local politics is so much more entertaining. With so much internal scheming going on it is however hardly surprising that Labour and Tory Councillors have so little time to do anything useful for local people.
It is often said that the voters do not like divided parties? Is that really true - do local people care? Views welcome.
It was a difficult one to edit. Try: 'A person;' may be on top etc.
ReplyDelete“In Kenton Ward, the message from residents was crystal clear: ‘We haven’t seen you in years to the Group leader and his deputy — why should we work for you?’ That sentiment wasn’t just about one doorstep or one street. It was a collective call for accountability, presence, and genuine connection. Leadership must be earned through consistent engagement, not assumed through titles. The recent shake-up in the Conservative Group reflects what happens when communities feel abandoned — they act.”
ReplyDeleteIf that is true - and most Tory Councillors are invisible (just like the Labour ones in Wembley Central, Wembley Hill etc - then why vote for them all. Makes no difference who they choose - voters should have the common sense to kick the Tories our of Kenton as they have clearly taken the area for granted for far too long.
DeleteYou’re invisible
DeleteAbandoned to developers Brents
ReplyDeleteShame about Cllr Maurice, he was one of the few that always speaks up for the residents at planning mtgs, and whilst he is not my ward Cllr,, i think he does a good job.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Cllr Maurice is a dedicated and proactive councillor.
DeleteThis shuffle of candidates is all quite funny really and bringing in too many inexperienced and unqualified candidates will not make Brent a better place, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Cllr. Maurice, it is true, he represents the residents of Brent well at the Planning meetings. The complete opposite of the Chair who quite obviously has connections with the developers. It is also believed that he is a member of the recently formed Labour Right Wing Group, (along with the developers friend in Brent, your one one and only Cllr Tatler), the group is called "Yes, In My Back Yard" (YIMBY). Of course, they don't actually mean in their back yard, they mean in your back yards.
From the Labour YIMBY Website
Our Mission
We are the grassroots pro-housing, pro-growth movement within the Labour Party.
We believe the only way to solve the housing crisis is to build more homes. And while we finally have a government that recognises this, the obstacles remain and the opposition is as organised as ever.
So we’ll help politicians beat the blockers and get Britain building.
Regarding Cllr Matt Kelcher, it should be noted that as the Chair of the Planning Committee, receiving a gift from a a developer is quite obviously a conflict of interest?
ReplyDelete22.05.2025 - Ticket to Chelsea Flower Show - event "celebrating sustainability" organised by Pure DC. value £70.00 Received from Pure DC (a company which delivers data centres in London and beyond) .
And here we have a local data centre that is planned, but where one asks?
PureDC Park Royal
Pure Data Centres Group
Premier Park Rd
NW10 7NZ Wembley
United Kingdom
This is just rearranging deckchairs. Reform will take their seats as they will much of labour. Labour needs to stand down to not let reform win
ReplyDeleteLabour are toast
ReplyDeleteThe local elections will soon be on their way and we need other parties apart from the incumbent labour, to start showing residents the art of what is possible under a different political administration.
ReplyDeleteWe need fully costed manifestos which show what will change, but also how long it will take considering the council is failing to meet basic residents needs right now so extensive work will undoubtedly be required.
We need confidence that the new administration will not accept the status quo, and will do whatever it takes to create a council that actually delivers for the people of Brent.
To be fair to the conservatives, their cllrs in Brent haven’t actually set the world alight or shown a rigorous opposition.
ReplyDeleteComment received by email:After 50 years of total male dominance of Conservative Councillors in the Kenton Ward of Brent Council, it was a refreshing change to see a female Councillor of Hindu origin elected in 2022. I am sure that both Cllr.Reg Colwill and Cllr. Arthur Steel, past Conservative Kenton Ward Councillors on Brent Council, would fully approve.
ReplyDeleteThe alleged intervention of Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East and chair of the Parliamentary Backbench 1922 Committee in the selection process of Conservative Candidates in the Kenton Ward of the Brent West Constituency for the May 2026 local elections is quite shocking. The attempt to displace a sitting female Councillor of Hindu origin with a white male smacks of racism and is just appalling. Fortunately, the Conservative members of the Kenton Ward overwhelmingly exercised their democratic voting rights and rejected this right-wing piece of gerrymandering. I was led to believe that Tammany Hall politics in the Conservative Party was a long time dead and buried. I was clearly wrong.
What does Kemi Baddenoch think of this?
ReplyDeleteshe has not even been told or informed what is going on in Brent West and her own team have kept this information away from her. The asian Councillor in question has been targeted by Blackman and a recording attacking the asian Councillor was provided to Brent Council and CCHQ shockingly dismissed the complaint.
ReplyDelete