Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Councillor Gideon Bull Suspended
Below is the email sent to party members. His crime? He asked questions about the risk to old people if the Haven Day Centre closes.
Democracy is officially dead in Haringey.
Dear redacted
Re: Suspension (removal of the whip) of Councillor Gideon Bull
Please see below emails (verbatim) from the Chief Whip of the Haringey Labour Group regarding the suspension of Councillor Gideon Bull.
I am conscious that the Tottenham CLP has many new members and there maybe confusion about what this means. By way of a brief explanation and foresee questions you may have:
- The CLP only deals with the disciplinary of members if the case they have been accused of is in regards to their membership of the Labour party.
- All Councillors belong to a Labour Group (as well as a CLP), in Haringey they belong to the ‘Haringey Labour Group’ as Councillors are borough-wide based on the geographical boundaries of Haringey Council. (i.e. there is no such thing as a Tottenham Labour Group as Tottenham is a Parliamentary Constituency boundary not a Local Council Boundary).
- If a Councillor is subject to disciplinary based on their role as a Councillor (not as a member of the party), then the case is dealt with by the [Haringey] Labour Group.
- The Labour Group can impose action on the membership of Councillors to the Labour Group and not his Labour Party membership.
- As Councillor Gideon Bull’s case is about his role as a Councillor it has been dealt with by the Haringey Labour Group.
- Councillor Gideon Bull’s suspension is a suspension from the Haringey Labour Group and not from the Labour Party. Gideon still remains a full member of the Labour Party.
- A suspension from the Labour Group means he is still a Councillor for the London Borough of Haringey as he has been elected to serve for 4 years.
- The technical term for this action is called the “removal of the whip”.
- The ability to remove Councillors from their role is covered by the Local Government Act and Representation of the People Act which has specific rules when Councillors can be removed from their role as Councillors.
- The decision to ‘remove the whip’ (suspend) is not an action that can be taken by one person, it is subject to a vote by the whole of the Haringey Labour Group. In this case the vote concluded to suspend Councillor Gideon Bull.
- The local MPs, the Assembly Member and MEPs have no vote and no decision making powers over the removal of a whip of a Labour Councillor.
As Gideon is still a full member of the Labour Party, he remains the Vice Chair of the Tottenham CLP and Secretary of the White Hart Lane Labour branch.
Councillor Gideon Bull has the right to appeal the decision to London Regional Board. If Councillor Gideon Bull decides to appeal and is successful then the suspension is withdrawn and you will be informed.
I hope my attempt to explain has helped.
As this is a decision by the Haringey Labour Group and not by the Tottenham CLP, I cannot not respond to any questions about the decision and I am writing to you solely to share the information.
Regards
Seema Chandwani
CLP Secretary | TottenhamEmails from Liz McShane - Chief Whip of the Haringey Labour Group To Be Shared With Members.
(Please note there are two emails)Dear Seema
This is to formally notify you that the whip has been removed from Cllr Gideon Bull, following the Special Labour Group meeting on Thursday 21st January, where the Labour Group voted for the recommendation.
The period of suspension is for 3 months, from 21st January 2016 to the end of the day on 21st April 2016.
I have written to Cllr Bull to confirm this and to formally notify him of the terms of his suspension.
Regards
Liz
Second Email [Following Request for Reason]:
Dear Seema,
You can say it's because of Gideon’s intervention at the Cabinet meeting on 10th November, where he spoke out against an agreed group decision, that the Labour Group voted on a recommendation to withdraw the whip based on concerns about comradely behaviour and collective responsibility in accordance with the Party’s rules and our own group standing orders.
Regards
Liz
Link to the meeting http://www.haringey.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/191461 the relevant part is 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
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Silly me. I thought Justin's use of seat and bacon in close contiguity was an allusion to Joe's elegant avoirdupois. I still feel we have a fattist, weightist issue here waiting for an appropriate Ibrahimic elucidation.
Meanwhile, you are all allowing my fellow countrywoman, Miss Whiplash McShane, to slip off the hook far too easily.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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I NOTE that the Haringey Trades Union Council backs Cllr. Bull in connection with the Suspension.
The HTUC points out that Gideon Bull is a backbench councillor and did not hold a position of responsibility. This addresses the (flawed) charge that Cllr. Bull infringed collective responsibility.
(The other charge was uncomradeliness, which is surely little more than a bullying of Councillor Bull.)
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Emina, do you have views about the suspension of Cllr. Bull?
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Permalink Reply by Cllr Emina Ibrahim on
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Yes I do have views Clive
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I am a member of Labour Party London Regional Board and Gideon has 14 days to appeal the decision which goes to regional board.
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Perhaps the person who furnished Clive with the vote count can also furnish him with my views as expressed at the group meeting where it is appropriate not on social media
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Emina I do not know how you voted, but knowing a little about you, I'd hope and expect that on this matter—about democracy and free speech—you'd have been a force for good and doing the right thing.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on
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So, not a single councillor is willing to go public and break ranks over this appalling farce? You do know, don't you, that if you spoke or voted at the recent Tottenham CLP meeting - where a supportive motion of Gideon was passed - that almost certainly prevents you from having anything, should Gideon appeal, to do with the appeal at Regional level?
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