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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 | Tottenham

Emails 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.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John McMullan on February 1, 2016 at 8:59

Ah, the smelly rubbish bins line again. Pretty thin skinned lot for politics, no?

Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on February 1, 2016 at 9:18

John, I see the latest figure in respect of the Care2 petition (www.care2.com).

Demand that Councillor Gideon is not punished for standing up for vulnerable adults.

It has garnered more than 25,000 signatures from around the world, including mine.

At least one international respondent was surprised this could happen in England (home of the Mother of Parliaments).

It's put Haringey Council London Labour on the map. I wonder if any "disciplinary" in a Council Group has ever attracted more attention.

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on January 31, 2016 at 18:19
I've been beginning to wonder if there wasn't a whole heap more to this than meets the eye.... All I can think of is that he was forewarned about not speaking out in advance and flagrantly did it anyway... thus effectively forcing the party to suspend him.. which is either brave, stupid or arrogant depending on your point of view
Permalink Reply by Lydia R on January 31, 2016 at 18:24

"All I can think of is that he was forewarned about not speaking out in advance and flagrantly did it anyway..."

Forwarned not to speak the truth or give an opinion??????  And this FORCED the Party to suspend him??????

JeeeeeeeZ, Antoinette.  Remember Galileo?

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on January 31, 2016 at 19:19
Yes forewarned... to tow the party line or face consequences... jeeeez (how patronising)...
Permalink Reply by Antoinette on February 1, 2016 at 11:23
And yes I remember Galileo. ....He played full back at Arsenal in 1970s
Permalink Reply by Lydia R on February 1, 2016 at 15:40

Antoinette, I was making a sober point about orthodoxy squashing legitimate dissent.  You obviously thought you were being extremely witty pretending to misunderstand.  I would have thought that with a name like yours, you might have had more opportunity than most to consider the consequences of making flip comments about serious political issues.

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on February 1, 2016 at 16:40
Actually I was mocking your pomposity at bringing Galileo into it at all
Permalink Reply by Lydia R on February 1, 2016 at 17:26

I don't see anything pompous about making reference to a famous case of someone being silenced for pointing out a fault in the received thinking of a powerful establishment.

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on February 1, 2016 at 17:52
No you probably wouldn't
Permalink Reply by Lydia R on February 1, 2016 at 18:05

This from someone who cannot spell the word "toe".

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on February 1, 2016 at 18:09
Is that your best shot Lydia? Put it down to auto-correct not a lack of education

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