Another Labour Councillor defects

Gayle

Gayle

Town Elder
Tackler
It's a shame that Paul Gott has decided to resign from the Labour Party and will now be an Independent on the Council. Not that I blame him, I resigned from the Labour Party myself over 18 months ago.

What's unfortunate though is that he is allowed to do this and remain a Councillor. I believe that if you have been voted on to the Council on a Labour ticket (or even a Conservative one for that matter) and you switch sides, you should have a bye election. I don't think it's fair to the electorate to be voted in based on a manifesto that he will no longer be obliged to follow.

Paul is a good Councillor and would possibly win a bye election anyway. He's not the first either, other Councillors have done it too but I think they're short changing the people who voted for them.
 
Gayle said:
It's a shame that Paul Gott has decided to resign from the Labour Party and will now be an Independent on the Council. Not that I blame him, I resigned from the Labour Party myself over 18 months ago.

What's unfortunate though is that he is allowed to do this and remain a Councillor. I believe that if you have been voted on to the Council on a Labour ticket (or even a Conservative one for that matter) and you switch sides, you should have a bye election. I don't think it's fair to the electorate to be voted in based on a manifesto that he will no longer be obliged to follow.

Paul is a good Councillor and would possibly win a bye election anyway. He's not the first either, other Councillors have done it too but I think they're short changing the people who voted for them.
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Totally agree Gayle, irrespective of party. It also looks like things aren't to well with Labour as an ex Labour councillor is standing as independent against Jean Battle at the county elections too:rolleyes:
 
On a similar note can you be a Hyndburn Councillor and a Lancashire Councillor at the same time?
 
Yes, Jean Battle was on both for a while but stepped down from HBC. I think Miles Parkinson is on both at the moment.
 
at least he was at some point voted in unlike gordon brown

it is wrong though, they should either have to have a election or there shoudl be a rule saying you cant switch sides until the next election
 
Nice chap. I was sat at his table some weeks ago at the awards evening. I wonder if he left because of disagreements nationally or locally?
 
Agree that Paul Gott got elected due to his connnection with the Labour Party, there again lots of us say we do usually vote for the person in local elections. Would have been interesting to see if he would have been returned if a bye-election were forced.

This is the Telegraph link :-

Huncoat councillor resigns from Labour over expenses anger (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Love Cllr. Britcliffe's remark at the bottom .. he doesn't miss a trick does he ?
Makes me laugh though ... gotta' give him that. :D

How long has Paul Gott been a councillor ? Funny, be does it now when all public opinion is disturbed by the MP's expenses ... will give him maximum support no doubt for losing confidence in National Politics :rolleyes:
 
pretty good tactics to abandon a sinking ship to keep your seat in the next election

call me synical but i bet most labour councilors and mps are sweating about keeping tehir positions after the mess tony blair and his crew have made of things and disassociating themselves from labour may be a good way to keep your seat
 
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I expect that some tory MPs will not stand again at the next election because they need the expenses perks to 'keep them in the manner to which they are accustomed'.
They will look for 'city jobs' - but they are harder to get now :D
 
MargaretR said:
I expect that some tory MPs will not stand again at the next election because they need the expenses perks to 'keep them in the manner to which they are accustomed'.
They will look for 'city jobs' - but they are harder to get now :D
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Think your statement that Tories *keeping them in a manor they are accustomed" can equally apply to labour MPs too Margaret, by adding in two words "have become":D
 
andrewb said:
Nice chap. I was sat at his table some weeks ago at the awards evening. I wonder if he left because of disagreements nationally or locally?
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Andrew I can conform that Paul has resigned because he does not support the Labour Party nationally.
 
HBC have been pretty sharp at amending their web-site I see ...still haven't changed Graham's address yet though ... :D
 
All local councillors should be independant then they might actually work together for Hyndburn instead of wasting time trying to score points.
 
Bagpuss said:
All local councillors should be independent then they might actually work together for Hyndburn instead of wasting time trying to score points.
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Can't agree more Bagpuss, but whilst you have party politics, things are never going to change. the problem is that the Hoy Poloy are not interested, we have plenty of people on here who have big opinions about everything, but when push comes to shove, wild horses wouldn't get them to stand and really make that difference:rolleyes:
 
Bagpuss said:
All local councillors should be independant then they might actually work together for Hyndburn instead of wasting time trying to score points.
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Well if Councillors keep on deserting the parties we could have a council of independents sometime soon.
 
Gayle said:
Well if Councillors keep on deserting the parties we could have a council of independents sometime soon.
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The independent councillors on Hyndburn Council Gayle operate as a political group.

At budget time they put an alternative budget forward as an independent group.They more often than not vote as an independent group.At election time they put out literature as an independent group.

I suppose it depends on how you would define indpendant. But for me if you operate as political group,then you are clearly not independent.
 
Bernard Dawson said:
The independent councillors on Hyndburn Council Gayle operate as a political group.

At budget time they put an alternative budget forward as an independent group.They more often than not vote as an independent group.At election time they put out literature as an independent group.

I suppose it depends on how you would define indpendant. But for me if you operate as political group,then you are clearly not independent.
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That is surely a play on words...........what is the difference between a group of laboiur councillors and a group of independants. :confused:
 
Bernard Dawson said:
How can you be independent Roy when you vote as a group?
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How can you be a representative of the people who vote for if you vote for the Party instead of your own beliefs,?
Independants vote for what is right without guidance from anyone.
If they get their heads together to defeat a motion which they dont agree with........thats democracy....whats wrong with that?
 
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