Forum Topic

Labour Council in Ealing are not socialist..

Please understand this. They are capitalist pure and simple. That is the problem with them. When we understand this - we can start to do something about it - together - all of usWe should not fight amongst ourselves. We should fight together against the complacent and selfish people who are ignoring our needs and desires...

Julian Smith ● 4145d23 Comments

Not at all, they simply vote 'en masse' and never. ever put a toe over the party line.

Nigel Brooks ● 4144d

I presume "Southall/Greenford bloc" is code for Sharma?

Julian Smith ● 4144d

The Labour councillors could vote Bell out but they won't as they follow their 'beloved leader'.As long as he panders to the Southall/Greenford bloc and keeps the Acton mob on side he will be safe, more pity us.

Nigel Brooks ● 4144d

I'm unsure of the constitution. Could they vote no confidence in the leader, and kick him and his cronies out, or does it have to be a vote of no confidence in the council - thus forcing an election?Because obviously the two outcomes have a very different impact on the councillors who do vote (losing the "benefits" etc if council is dissolved)

Julian Smith ● 4145d

Correction, there are presently only 68 councillors as one has resigned.

Bob Little ● 4145d

Let's do the mathematics.There are 69 councillors (I got the number wrong earlier).Therefore you will need 35 votes to force a vote of no confidence. Deduct the Southall/Greenford 'bloc' who always follow their 'beloved leader' (just like North Korea) and you have 69-24=45.Of these 45, 29 are also Labour councillors of whom only 11 would therefore have to vote with the 'bloc' against any motion to maintain the status quo.It's not going to happen Julian, not while the Labour councillors 'enjoy' over £750,000 a year of our money in allowances.

Nigel Brooks ● 4145d

24 is not half the total...And surely some of them must have their own mind anyway? Council was Conservative previously, so if nothing else they must realise that it could swing back if the public hates the way they are carrying on. Self-preservation can come in many forms :)

Julian Smith ● 4145d

The wards are spilt: (back of an envelope, you my want to double check)Acton 4 wards    9 Lab 3 Lib Dem councillorsEaling 6        5 Lab  12 Con  1 Lib DemGreenford 3      9 LabHanwell 2        6 LabNortholt  2      6 LabPerivale 1      3 LabSouthall 6      15 Lab'Bloc' the Greenford and Southall votes (24) and you cannot get a 'no confidence' majority.Such is democracy in Ealing.

Nigel Brooks ● 4145d

I think if people are naming labour councillors it might be wise to keep private though...

Julian Smith ● 4145d

We have links into the Asian community ourselves.How are the wards spread? Probably on the website I guess. Must set up a database

Julian Smith ● 4145d

You won't get 40 (you need 37 BTW) Julian.Southall/Greenford vote 'en bloc' and I am not playing any race card when I point out the obvious that the votes have, for many years, been along ethnic lines from selection through to, alleged, intimidation.  That out that 'bloc' and you cannot achieve the number needed for a vote of no confidence.

Nigel Brooks ● 4145d

Thanks Nigel. Open or private is fine. As they are getting a thumbs up it doesn't need to be kept behind closed doors anyway. Hope some others can contribute too. Will probably need about 40 to vote the leadership out - and of course all who get listed may not agree.I must check the constitutional position - hopefully only requires a simple majority..(?)

Julian Smith ● 4145d

JulianI am happy to do this in open forumI can only speak for councillors with whom I have dealt personally, but have found them to be solid decent people.Jon BallJoanna DabrowskaGary MalcolmDave MillicanGreg Stafford

Nigel Brooks ● 4145d

Couldn't agree more Angela.But they all blame each other, then carry on regardless. Problem is Council, GLA and Central Government. Differing politic affiliations, same rubbish decisions. That's why I say we have to fight this from the grass roots - deal with our councillors, and other politicians, as human beings and make them see their policies for what they are:Not solving housing crisis, although this is the justificationSelling our quality of life out to big business and rich foreignersDestroying the city we loveSaying one thing and doing the other (Boris elected saying he would not allow Ken's skyscraper plan to go ahead - what has he done?)(Council in Ealing claiming to be Labour - and then behaving like the worst kind of Tories)The only way we will change this is to keep up the pressure, and stand together. If we fight over whether it is the Conservatives or Labour who are screwing us then they will just carry on doing it...

Julian Smith ● 4145d

I agree with Nigel re the current Council blaming the Tories......I've heard quite a few Councillors say "well, you're getting a "Landmark" 20 storey building and you can blame Boris for that".  They may have a point, but, frankly, they are using it to their own advantage and what are they, puppets?  The London Plan is a Plan and should be used with discretion.  Acton ain't Canary Wharf!  Excuses and I'm not buying it.

Angela White ● 4145d

Email me privately with details of councillors who you think are fundamentally decent (you can click on my name here for the email link).We need to start a dialogue with them..

Julian Smith ● 4145d

What I want to do is to try not to make it 'party' political. I don't believe all the Labour Councillors are bad. I think the leadership (not just Bell, it will be a group) is bad and the others are asleep at the wheel. We need to wake them up!But if they won't wake up, then yes we have to vote them out at the next opportunity.

Julian Smith ● 4145d

I really doubt it Julian given the Labour majority, the fact that they enjoy over £950,000 in allowances and that turkeys don't vote for Christmas.People moan, quite rightly, about Conservative benefit cuts, but need to look locally where Bells Buffoons play politics with the most vulnerable in our society and then blame Tory budget cuts while building a virtually unoccupied car park and deliver a bit of (incredibly expensive)road mending in Southall six months late.

Nigel Brooks ● 4145d

I have to say, there are some good Councillors though.....I will leave the naming of them, don't want to shame anyone.

Angela White ● 4145d

They wouldn't dare.  Would you?

Angela White ● 4145d

I wonder whether we could force enough of our Councillors into a vote of no confidence in the leadership?

Julian Smith ● 4145d

Sand in their pants, Nigel, sand in their pants.  We can start now. I agree Jules.  I'm with you.  Unless they can prove themselves otherwise between now and then, I'm all for ousting the ones who talk a good job but don't deliver.  We didn't want the Oaks but got it, we don't want Premier Inn and we don't want Catalyst's 20 storeys on the Friary Park estate (Catalyst told us at the meeting last week that the 20 storey tower proposal was being driven by.....the Council themselves).  So, pinch of salt with all the talk.....until they veto the whole mullarkey.

Angela White ● 4145d

A real shame that more people did not realise this last May when labour bought the votes in Southall and Acton with levels of investment of which the rest of the borough could only dream.Nothing we can do now until May 2018.

Nigel Brooks ● 4145d