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 2eapisg6lxq2e on
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of course it would be gifficult to follow i will try to explain.
CLP stands for Constituency Labour Party
Every MP has their Constituency in this case Seema is in Tottenham Constituency
There are two Constituencies that go to make up Haringey in terms of the Council the other being Hornsey and Wood Green
A Constituency is made up by a number of smaller areas called wards. This ward we are talking about is Noel Park which is in the H and WG ( hornsey and wood green) constituency.
Please ask about anything i have not explained fully
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Permalink Reply by Neil on
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Why did Cllr Marshall resign after a short time in the job? The Labour councillor pledged support and committment for Noel Park at her hustings in front of voters not long ago.
I wonder if Seema was rejected because she is too left wing for the moderates running Haringey Council. And you fail to mention this. You mention she 'rang rings around' Labour councillors in a town hall committee. This shows she is a trouble maker and likes to rock the boat within her own party.
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. The council owned parade of shops in Salisbury Road has either empty or ugly and run down retail units. Yet Wood Green Tube Station is nearby.
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Permalink Reply by Cllr Emina Ibrahim on
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Neil, Denise is a very close friend of mine and her diagnosis with Cancer was in late autumn last year after the election. I am sure you will understand it's a very difficult time for all of us.
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the point of this thread is to debate as to whether or not the CLP democratic process has been undermined by the top echelons of the party. Your response Neil says you think it may well have been and a damned good thing too.
The moderates running the council intend to carry out a widespread social cleansing programme via over 4,000 demolitions of council house properties, what would an extreme council look like?
As to anonymity my name is Keith Dunn Labour Party member of Tottenham Green ward
If it is a matter of opinion as to someone's suitability, then they should declare their reasons for that opinion.
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Permalink Reply by 1lt1j1e9vpo6f on
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Keith
Please read your own party's rulebook.
There is no 'democratic process' to undermine. Committees, sub-committees, ill-defined guidelines, and affirmative action make any semblance of democracy near impossible.
Take the argument to your clubmates. It's an internal matter. Better still, just join the Finsbury park Lawn Bowls Club.
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Simon you clearly regard yourself as an authority on the matter and you declared positive discrimination as a reason for it's lack of democracy. Can you point me to the sections on local councillor selections that refer to race gender or homophobia please?
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Keith, it took me about five minutes to find and read the appropriate rules. I dont think that makes me an authority...it just suggests that I prefer facts to idle debate.
I have no idea where you get homophobia from. Please concentrate, and for goodness sake do your own homework. It's your party, not mine.
Chapter 12 Clause V.3 is one example of affirmative action.
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Unfortunately, no... it relates to National positions....not local
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so despite the extraordinary speed with which your advanced mental capabilities allowed you to discover the relevant rules it would seem the one you quote refers to the officers of the EC and not the slate of candidates offered to a ward to choose their prospective councillor candidate from. In future you may consider the phrase 'no I am sorry I don't know' as a response when you don't know the answer.
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Keith
It relates to the LCF... you know, the people who "determine and endorse a panel of prospective local government candidates.."
Rather than read the rulebook, you make an erroneous and pointless statement. Did we get any further on your Homophobia drivel?
Again, below we have a member (for the third time) counselling against communicating with someone who disagrees. Citing the party's own rulebook is deemed provocative in these troubled times.
The depth of the existential crisis facing your party really comes as little surprise, if we are to gauge it on the responses the members have offered in this discussion.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Keith, Please don't feed the trolls. There's no indication that they want to achieve anything constructive. Their enjoyment comes from deliberately posting provocative messages.
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Cllr Denise Marshall sadly passed away peacefully a few hours ago. She was a truly inspirational woman. Denise fought her illness to the end. If you would like to know more about this brave and amazing woman please click the link Alan provided.
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