Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Is Claire Kober running a dictatorship?
Below is a blog post that was written by someone who attended the Labour Party meeting where they selected their candidate for Noel Park.
It strikes me that many Labour members do not want Kober as Leader but she has subverted democracy ensuring only people supportive to her retaining power will be allowed to have a vote on her future. This does sound like a dictatorship.
Is this something we should accept as residents. What if there are better people out there to run our council and be our Leader but this is not being allowed? Surely democracy is vital? It sounds like Tower Hamlets.
Disclaimer: I am not a member of the labour party (because of antics below). I do not know Seema, although I had the pleasure of watching her in action at a council meeting and she ran rings around them, whilst still being calm and funny. I can see why Noel Park Labour wanted her.
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ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM, SEXISM, FIXING AND DICTATORSHIP FLY IN STORMY WOOD GREEN LABOUR PARTY MEETING
Following the resignation of Cllr Marshall in Noel Park ward, the Labour party started the process to select a new candidate to contest the by-election to be held on Sept 17th.
The two applicants for the role were Stephen Mann (husband of Haringey Mayor, Jennifer Mann) and Seema Chandwani.
Suspicion began when Mann started contacting members of the Noel Park branch of the Labour Party from mid-July. Ordinary members, unaware of the process were somewhat surprised a few weeks later to see an email sent on the 6th Aug 2015 to formally open the process with a closing date of 12th Aug. Ms Chandwani who had applied, had only been able to contact members from the evening of the closing date.
Both candidates were subject to an interview prior to Noel Park members voting on who they wished to select. The interviews were scheduled on Sat 15th Aug, however Mann already had his interview the previous weekend, before the deadline closed. On both of the interview panels was Cllr Elin Weston, the Councillor in Hornsey with Mann’s wife and also the chair of the Labour group, who herself would require votes from the new Noel Park Councillor to retain that position. Mann, a Hornsey resident would also be eligible to vote for Weston for her reselection in 2018.
Ms Chandwani was informed on Sun afternoon that she was not successful but was able to appeal; her appeal was rejected and she was only informed hours before the selection meeting.
Members of the Noel Park branch, unaware of the situation, turned up to cast their votes and were surprised not to see Ms Chandwani on the list of candidates. Many members were holding her leaflet and began to ask where she was. It was obvious as the discussion of her absence progressed that the majority had come to vote for her. If she was not rejected – she would have won.
Steve Hart, who was embroiled in the Falkirk election scandal, struggled to keep control of the meeting as concerns of racism, sexism and accusations of fixing in favour of Mann were made. Ms Chandwani was the only ethnic and woman candidate.
Members wanted to know the reasons of her being rejected as many did not believe from her literature and meetings they had with her that she was incapable. Ms Chandwani is currently the Secretary of the Tottenham Labour Party, one of the most senior positions in the party, members were bemused how someone in such a position could be unsuccessful. Tensions grew as Hart could not give any responses to the questions posed.
It is believed that Ms Chandwani was blocked as she is a “Lammy-Loyalist” [it is no secret that David and Seema are very close]. Tensions between the Council Leader Claire Kober and David Lammy have been simmering for a number of months as Lammy questions decisions made by the council on housing, youth centres and Marcus Garvey library. Kober in-turn has publically endorsed Lammy’s rival in the mayoral race. Blocking Ms Chandwani is being seen as another attack on Lammy from Kober. Some believe that Ms Chandwani’s popularity could see her overthrow Kober as Leader, leaving her and Lammy to overturn some of the decisions upsetting many residents.
Members of Noel Park branch were presented with Mann and two other candidates, both of whom the members had not heard from until the meeting. One was a former Councillor and the other the son of a current councillor – all were white males.
After the selection meeting Ms Chandwani tweeted congratulations to Mann. Mann, who ironically wrote a book on blacklisting, did not respond.
Ms Chandwani continues to be the Secretary of the Tottenham Labour Party for the third year, a position she won by being voted in by members from all 9 wards within the constituency, including Seven Sisters where Kober is a councillor.
2018 will be interesting.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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That is such sad news Emina. Condolences to her family and friends.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Emine I guess I am still smiling at the complete powning Denise did to me on twitter in front of you, Seema and Diane Abbott last year. It was like I was drowning in a sea of my own opinions. She certainly wasn't trying to entertain me but I'm pleased the people watching it got the giggles. RIP Denise, you were pretty awesome.
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Permalink Reply by P Knight on
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This shows she is a trouble maker and likes to rock the boat within her own party.
No, it shows that she understands how the council works, what it was they were meant to be doing and what they were not doing. I would rather have that person in my boat and not outside it. The councillors should not have had the council managers misguide them so much that anyone could run rings around them.
The people of Noel Park deserve better from a councillor. We want committment and a team worker to get results for this neglected and run down ward.
This seems like a contradiction, you would rather a councillor who did not stand up for residents to be a team worker? You have that now, which is why you have run down retail units.
Noel Park is no different to any other ward in Haringey and we all want to vote for someone who will represent residents. Who is not going to be fooled by lazy town hall managers, who is going to question why things are not done and who is not afraid to do something.
That does not make them a trouble maker, that is what a real politician should be doing.
More like this please.
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By the way Neil, are you standing to be the Conservative candidate in Noel Park again? Or was getting the lowest votes of all the candidates a record you don't want to break?
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Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on
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Don't people think it's a little strange that Ms Chandwani hasn't appeared on here to confirm or deny the reports which, if true, are absolutely scandalous? I have called on the London Labour Party to suspend the branch following an urgent, full and serious investigation. Stranger still, that local journalists have turned a blind eye to these allegations (Haringey's few remaining journalists have as little independence as their Harare counterparts). Cllr Denise Marshall, who resigned the seat to pave the way for this by-election, sadly lost her battle today. I didn't personally know her but she has been taken from her family, community and party far too song. Our thoughts should be with her partner, Lisa, and all who loved and cared for her. RIP.
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my condolences to comrade Marshall's Partner and family .
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i have done 21 street stalls for Jeremies campaign Pavlos and enjoyed every minute. When he wins a whole new battle between the Liberals who presently dominate the upper echelons of my party and the Corbynites in the membership who want our party back, will open up. If confrontation in defence of the red heart of the Party is not for you then now may not be the best time to join. I however have been counting the days since the Liberals in my party started dropping bombs on the children of Iraq, to have this battle with them
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#Tories4Corbyn :)
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Don't be put off Pav, get on board and more nice normal people will join you. There are also some nice normal people there but they fight with the horrible ones and the audience looking on just thinks "fight".
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If it was not for the right wing in the Labour Party there would not be any opposition . This is Tottenham the Liberals and Tories locally have proved an asset to us , so we have time to go elsewhere to help out other constituencies. With enemies like mr. Hinchcliffe we dont require any friends.
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did you not attend any of the joyous rally's for Jeremy Corbyn ? There are few more life affirming experiences than being involved in a campaign that's sole aim is to raise the quality of life for the abused and misused both home and abroad.
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