After it was discovered at the St Ann's Labour Party selection candidate selection meeting that there were people present and voting who should not have been, I came home from the pub (where I'd heard about it) and wrote this article. It has subsequently been edited by site admins to remove the names of people who were embarrassed or in the final case where a journalist said it was potentially libellous. Well here I will attempt to summarise what we have subsequently found out and hopefully take people's attention away from my original appalling rant.
*An individual has asked that their name be replaced with their function in this post on the grounds that they are not seeking public office. This has been done.
Tags for Forum Posts: election2014, labour, st ann's labour, stanns
Alan, I can only agree with your description of Haringey [Children Service]'s conduct in the AB & CD High Court case, as atrocious.
The key excerpt of the webcast to which you originally drew attention and referred, can still be viewed here.
I arranged for it to be copied to a site possibly less likely to suffer any technical issues (I didn't want to risk any missing minutes, as occurred in the Watergate tapes). I drew the attention of OFSTED to the video.
Cllr. David Browne did indeed ask very good questions in the vitally important area of Children's Services. The discussion was about the repercussions, if any, of the High Court decision.
In respect of that decision, Cllr. Bull can be heard saying "judges are judges". His remark did not reflect the same level of understanding shown by Cllr. Browne and Cllr. Bull appeared mainly interested in the impact on PR and on councillors.
That Scrutiny meeting was held in July 2013.
By the end of last year (i.e. six months later) the two officers heard speaking were no longer in the employ of Haringey Council.
Penetrating questions aren't always appreciated everywhere. However, I have no doubt that the questions were in the public interest and that in asking them, David Browne was acting as a good councilor.
Thanks Clive. Posting this video on the Vimeo website is a valuable public service.
Zena Brabazon is a member of this Scrutiny Panel and had asked for the AB & CD case to be on the agenda. She was abroad on the date set, so David Browne substituted. David wasn't just being "a good councillor". When the chair cut him off, David had began exposing the practice in this case - heavily criticised by a High Court judge.
The fairly brief discussion on the AB & CD case begins a few minutes into the audio file - marked at 2:50. David Browne's questions begin at 10.00. Though it's worth listening to the previous answer by Libby Blake then Director of Children's Services. Which includes her comment (at 5:27) "I'm not sure there's going to be an enormous amount of learning that comes out of that". [A planned review.]
Cllr Joanna Christophides left the meeting at the point when David asks the key question. (13:47)
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor 1998-May 2014. My wife Zena Brabazon is one of the deselected councillors in St Ann's ward. David Browne is the other.)
I am sad to report that our protests seem to have stopped just short of Ed Milliband and I am quite sure he knows that there is something dodgy around the St Ann's candidates. However this does not stop him being photographed with Ali Gul Ozbek at a £100 a plate dinner last night (see my Twitter timeline, I doubt HarringayOnline will let me publish the photo here).
Why am I said? Because someone I thought was a good guy, who is talking a lot about getting real people back into political discourse and saying that selections must be run fairly is doing the exact opposite of what he says.
I heard about this. But I wouldn't jump to conclusions.
Being close to the famous and (potentially) powerful is part of the deal at these £100 or £150 a pop fundraisers. And you might get the chance to be in a photo with them. If I haven't deleted it, I may have a snap from former councillor Sheik Thompson showing him with arm around Gordon Brown. And when Ed Miliband came to Tottenham after the riot there was a slight scuffle as people tried to get themselves into the frame next to Ed.
Some people take it to extremes. Did you see Woody Allen's film Zelig?
Personally, for all my public appearances I hire a body double.
I don't suppose anyone went to the St Ann's Labour Party Ward meeting last night and wants to dish? As I understand things it was inquorate and discussion of addresses of members was somewhat glossed over by the chair and secretary.
Apparently tonight I am to receive a visit from the Haringey MPS at home. They will make an accusation on behalf of the Secretary of the St Ann's branch of the Labour Party that I have been using social media to harass him. They will ask me to sign something saying that I promise not to do it again and that if I do I may be liable to arrest.
You must film this madness.
John this sounds intimidatory. Does it not parallel the attempted treatment of Cllr. Alan Stanton by the former Labour Chief Whip over the questions Alan raised on his Flickr account about Cllr. Adje's conduct?
Questions that have never been satisfactorily answered?
By publishing Cllr. H. Lister's emails, Alan brought a spotlight to this shady corner. I seem to remember just before the 'high noon' showdown, Cllr. Lister was removed as Labour Chief Whip.
You may be able to turn the visit to your advantage.
Suggest you have a witness(es), record everything and/or video as TW suggests.
John* this from Crown Prosecution Service website 'Although harassment is not specifically defined it can include repeated attempts to impose unwanted communications and contacts upon a victim in a manner that could be expected to cause distress or fear in any reasonable person'. Have you caused 'distress or fear' ? No i thought not. However, ironically, your being accused of harassment could be deemed harassment on their part.
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