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 Michael Anderson on
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Tell you what, it's a pain trying to find it. I've found the 2014 one posted by Rotherham CLP!
https://rotherhampolitics.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/rule-book-201...
It was easier to find the rule book for the New Zealand Labour Party!
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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That's why I suggested asking Cllr Liz McShane. Then we can all see the Rules and Group Standing Orders she was working to. And we'll realise just how fair, open and transparent and in accordance with proper procedures all this is.
"And why am I under arrest?" Josef K then asked.
"That's something we're not allowed to tell you. Go into your room and wait there. Proceedings are underway and you'll learn about everything all in good time. It's not really part of my job to be friendly towards you like this, but I hope no-one, apart from Franz, will hear about it, and he's been more friendly towards you than he should have been, under the rules, himself. If you carry on having as much good luck as you have been with your arresting officers then you can reckon on things going well with you."
K. wanted to sit down, but then he saw that, apart from the chair by the window, there was nowhere in the room where he could sit.
"You'll get the chance to see for yourself how true all this is," said Franz.
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Uh oh. When Kafka get quoted you know what's around the corner.
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I've already done that one, Michael. Awaking from troubled dreams ...
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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Lever on
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Chapter 13, Clause XI (1) of the Labour Party rules seems relevant, recognising the need for individual councillors to represent the interests of their communities.
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Have you got hold of the party's current rulebook, Jeffrey? If you are Party member you may be able to get an electronic copy sent to you. Or simply find it on the Party's website.
I haven't downloaded an updated copy of the Rulebook since the vote-rigging scandal in St Ann's ward. To my deep disgust, Party officials then selected which of the rules they wished to apply, and those inconvenient rules they chose to ignore. (This was documented on this website. As was the courage of HoL member John McMullan in whistle-blowing.)
I wish I now believed in the good faith of the people involved to understand and apply the Labour Party's rules with rigour and fairness. But in any case, there are some public policy issues and principles which which in my view override narrow Party interest.Free speech is one. So is representing and defending the interests of the community - especially its most vulnerable members.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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AT tonight's Full Council Budget meeting, half a dozen Majority Group Councillors were absent, including Cllr. Bull.
In my opinion, my Highgate Ward colleague Cllr. Bob Hare spoke best (loud and clear).
However the award for the best line of the evening must go to Cllr. Isidoros Diakides. Following a vote, when asked by the Chief Executive as to whether he had or would vote, he responded to wide laughter:
I voted with the Whip every time!
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I HOPE that the Labour Party Whip will not be withdrawn from John Mann MP.
Yesterday, in front of multiple cameras, Mr Mann accused former London Mayor Ken Livingstone of being a "Nazi apologist".
That could be viewed as uncomradely.
Uncomradely behaviour was the charge levelled at Haringey Councillor Gideon Bull.
This charge—and suspension of the Whip—should surely be used reserved for egregious examples of uncomradeliness, such as being an eloquent advocate for vulnerable, elderly residents: something for which Cllr. Bull was clearly guilty.
CDC
Haringey Councillor
Liberal Democrat Party
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