A retiring Labour councillor has given his backing to the new Labour leader in Brighton and Hove but fired a parting shot as the battle for seats next May gets under way.
Councillor Kevin Allen praised his party colleague Daniel Yates, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, having called on his predecessor Warren Morgan to stand down.
But he said that Labour might still choose a new leader after the local elections next year and he urged members of his branch to turn out and vote for candidates in the upcoming selection contest for his ward.
Councillor Allen said in an email to colleagues in Preston Park Labour Party: “Over the past few years Labour has changed fundamentally: from the deformed party of Tony Blair, that accepted far too much of the neo-liberal agenda, to the rejuvenated party of Jeremy Corbyn, that has rediscovered its true democratic socialist purpose.
“In Brighton and Hove the change has been especially striking. In 2014, when candidates were chosen for the 2015 local elections, the party was dominated by Progress, the right-wing Blairite pressure group.
“The result was a group of Labour councillors most of whom voted for candidates other than Corbyn in the two leadership elections.
“The former leader of the council, Warren Morgan, always made clear his opposition to Corbyn. That was his right.
“The main problem, however, was his attitude to the party itself. And with his statement, following last September’s extraordinary and inspiring conference, that he would stop conference returning to Brighton, citing some remarks allegedly made at a fringe meeting, he simply went too far. He had to go. It was just a question of when.
“We now have a new leader of the Labour group.
“Daniel Yates understands the need to unite all sections of the party and I am convinced he has the self-confidence and ability to lead Labour into a successful election.
Whether, after the election, he remains leader or the newly elected councillors decide to go for somebody else is going to be very interesting.
“My view is that we need to open things up and consult the party membership.
“The candidate selections taking place next month provide the chance for party members to change the nature of the Labour group.
“I strongly urge Preston Park members to attend the shortlisting meeting on (Tuesday) 17 July and particularly the selection meeting on (Tuesday) 24 July.
“Please use your vote to choose a united socialist team who share the views of the party membership and have been steadfast throughout in their support of Jeremy Corbyn and his programme of fundamental change.
“On this occasion I am not putting my name forward.
“Having been a councillor since 1999 (with the exception of 2011 to 2015 when the Greens held all three Preston Park seats), I feel now is the time to step down, confident that there are comrades of integrity and talent ready to take over.”
Oh great – more Momentum Labour Councillors on the horizon.
Any sensible invidual should vote for anything bar the graffiti ridden, rubbish bin collection (if you are lucky) & homeless epidemic party than Labour.
I do not know if Cllr Emma Daniels was in the running last time but it wouldn’t surprise me if She Became Leader.It would appear She has become a Senior figure in the Group.I do wish she would dispense with the jacket though as it does make one think She is not up for change.
One may have more respect for Kevin’s opinion if he had done more as a councillor. And by more, I simply mean turn up to a significant proportion of the meeting he was expected to be at.
As a city we should be very worried about the next election. If you are lucky enough to get a sitting Labour councillor to vote for, then you can be confident you have a good one. But if the name is new, do your research first.
Some will undoubtedly be decent, but many of the new names in the running for Labour are truly shocking. They will make the green councillors look sane and competent. It would leave us longing for the days that Kitcat was in charge.
Yes the take-over being attempted by Momentum is truly worrying. Many traditional Labout voters will be splitting their votes next May to keep the extremists and loonies out of office. There will be plenty of publicity and information to let voters know just who are Momentum candidates hiding behind the Labour label.
Watching the Labour Party is like watching the Jeremy Kyle Show. Depressingly, so is watching the Tory Party.
I blame the Russians.
I understand councillors were shocked by this. It’s the first time anyone’s heard from Allen in 3 years.
Haven’t a clue who the leader is. I do know there was plenty of back stabbing within the local party. I feel Warren Morgan was an excellent councillor , labour in Brighton have lost my vote for the first time. Don’t forget every little helps !!
A L Brighton and Freda Higgled obviously never attend meetings and see how often Kevin ALlen does attend. He doesn’t tend to grandstand, unlike some. Wouldnt always agree with him.Check the minutes though. He belongs to more Committees than some of his colleagues and attends.