WE'LL SUE FOR ELECTION SNUB
THREE senior Labour Party stalwarts are suing their own party after being barred from standing as election candidates.
Former city council leader Barry Stockley, businessman Gary Elsby and ex-councillor Mick Williams are taking legal action against a national Labour Party official, who devised the selection rules.
They have lodged court papers after being barred from standing for Stoke-on-Trent City Council seats in May's local elections by regional party officers using those rules.
The party veterans, who said Labour's selection procedures were not followed, failed to overturn the decision on appeal.
Mr Elsby, of Baddeley Green, said: "During the interview process we were told our aims and values were not consistent with the Labour Party.
"I was also told I am not committed to local government in any shape or form, even though I've been a party member for over 30 years and stood in two previous elections.
"To say three of the most senior local Labour Party members in the city are not competent to represent their party is ridiculous.
"If we win our case then we want to change the selection process, and failing that we will seek substantial damages for the way we have been treated."
In previous elections the regional Labour Party had drawn up a long-list of candidates, which was cut down by the constituency branch committee to select those who would stand.
But this year the candidates were chosen by three members of the regional party.
Mr Elsby, who is secretary of the Stoke-on-Trent Central Constituency Labour Party (CLP), says the three men have been singled out for daring to oppose the elected mayoral system.
It has sparked warnings the dispute will undermine Labour's chances at the polls.
He added: "Members in the Stoke-on-Trent Central area are so angry they are determined not to vote Labour and there is very little confidence in the party, or the city council's Labour group."
CLP branch chairman Mr Stockley, of Berry Hill, said: "We don't want to go down this road, but we just want to see some common sense."
Mr Williams, of Penkhull, who is the constituency's political education officer and who has previously represented wards in Cobridge and Hartshill, declined to comment on the matter.
Former elected mayor Mark Meredith, who has been lined up as a Labour election agent in the city, dismissed Mr Elsby's claims that Stoke-on-Trent Central CLP had been singled out for punishment.
He said: "All three constituencies were treated equally and have all been informed by Labour's National Executive Committee of the new ways in which constituencies should be organised.
"It is time some people realised that the party is different now and we have more democratic ways of doing things."
Stoke-on-Trent South Labour MP Rob Flello also defended the selection process, and denied claims outsiders were being parachuted into the city.
He said: "We need candidates who can stand up against the Tory-Independent group running the council.
"I have no truck with anyone in the party who wants to cause disruption, because there are far more important things going on."
Regional Labour officials declined to comment on the row.
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by Jamie, Stoke
Thursday, March 11 2010, 11:05AM
“Gary - I shall be at the CLP meeting on MOnday and so you can happily talk me through this in more detail there.
The real problem I have is, if the party don't want you to stand, if you're beliefs fall outside of "the remit", if you've caused problems before, why are you trying to ruin the entire Labour Groups chances of winning the May elections?
The main issue to the majority of those within the "group" surely must be to enhance Labour's reputation for fending for those who cannot fend for themselves, stopping the BNP, halting the Tory-Independent leadership of the Council and getting this City out of the mire it's seemingly found itself in.
I think the majority of us would sooner be discussing that.
:)”
by Guy Brookes-Smyth, Bradeley
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:57AM
“Really? So where is the great outpouring of grief from the local Party members that you cannot be their candidate? I don't see it. You are being used by the Party's opponents against the Party. If you are stupid enough to pose, on the front page of the local paper, scrunching up a 'Vote Labour' poster (when you are asking to be a Labour candidate!) then you are too stupid to be considered. You're political judgement is appalling and the Labour Party is better off without you.”
by Gary Elsby, Baddeley Green
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 1:33PM
“If I am 'small minded' as you say, then your view is correct and I will lose any vote I am in, won't I?
No, for I am kept out of the vote because my views are held by the whole Labour Party across Stoke-on-Trent.”
by Guy Brookes-Smyth, Bradeley
Monday, March 08 2010, 4:25PM
“No idea what the Party members think of this, I'm only a Labour voter.
They say that they have 'been singled out for daring to oppose the Elected Mayoral system'. What a load of tosh! The Labour Party merely recognised the wishes of the voters in the first referendum to set up the Mayoral system and now accepts the decision of the second referendum to have a Leader and Cabinet system. This is called democracy and it is what the Labour Party expects its members to adhere to I believe. They have been rejected, most likely, because they are small minded, entrenched, backwoodsmen, who do not have the best interests of the voters at heart. Fair enough!
If Mark Meredith is happy to accept the second city referendum result, then what's their problem?”
by adrian, Trentham
Sunday, March 07 2010, 6:27PM
“Very well put in a few lines from Karen of Sneyd Green, said everything most of us are thinking. Unfortunately there are still those old guard Labour 'vote for anything in red', that have left this city in the dire state it is, having had a generation and mandate to actually do something about it!”
by Derrick, A Once great Land
Saturday, March 06 2010, 11:33PM
“It's all about central control you see. Nu Labour like to centrally control everything. They'd centally control the air that we breath if they could, either that or they'd tax it.
Nu labour, Undemocratic and rotten to the core!”
by lee, meir
Saturday, March 06 2010, 9:10PM
“Gary perhaps you need to take the hint, Abbey green didnt want you labour dont want you, notice any pattern forming lol.”
by christopher, Common Sense Land
Saturday, March 06 2010, 7:39PM
“What I think is wonderful is for years those in council have ignored the wishes and of course demands of us the public, in fact sometimes doing the complete opposite of what the city wants... and now... now they are like headless chickens running around trying to please us.
To quote head numpty...
"It is time some people realised that the party is different now and we have more democratic ways of doing things."
Right, so now the election is looming.. now you change? Not good enough and for once, WE shall show them who runs government, us, I hope they are all scared.. they should be.
Carry on the in fighting.. we the public love to see you fall!... a good lesson to those who follow.. ignore the public at your peril...”
by Karen, Sneyd Green
Saturday, March 06 2010, 3:12PM
“So the Labour Party have finally noticed that the councillors of Stoke on Trent have been giving the party a bad name with their incompentent running of our city. Maybe we'll get someone who knows what they're doing next time, and our city (including the dump that Hanley is becoming) can start to bloom again.”
by the joker, hanley
Saturday, March 06 2010, 1:42PM
“What a sad sight three "Labour stalwarts" haveing to sue their own party to stand in an election, lol.
Don't they get the message from their mates?
THEY DON'T WANT YOU, YOU ARE A LIABILITY.LOL.
If brains was dynamite they would not have enough to blow a match out, LOL.”