Love of Labour is lost
Apr 4 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal
AFORMER Labour councillor has criticised the “damaging” party policy that forced him to resign because of his gender and that could see a candidate who lives 23 miles from the ward being elected.
Northumberland county councillor Paul Kelly will stand as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming unitary elections, while the Labour candidate for his Bywell ward will be Seaton Delaval-based Mary Pidcock, currently a member of Blyth Valley Council.
Coun Kelly is one of a number of male Labour candidates who have not been allowed to contest their seats by the party as it is seeking to bring in more women candidates.
But Coun Kelly, who lives in Ovington, said: “As a councillor of 11 years standing and a great deal of experience, I am being pushed aside to make way for someone from an entirely different constituency.
“I have been forced to go Independent, which is not a choice I would take by inclination but it is the only route left that I can take.
“It is a very damaging policy that has been clumsily applied.”
Coun Kelly said that he had waited until the last possible minute before handing in his nomination paper, in case a late reprieve had allowed him to stand for the Labour Party.
He said: “I didn’t commit myself until it became clear that the regional director was not prepared to budge, and it wasn’t an easy thing to do. My whole family background is Labour.
“The Labour Party has abandoned me. I have been forced to go Independent because the people in my division deserve better than having an inexperienced and unknowledgeable candidate.” But Coun Pidcock defended her right to stand as the candidate, insisting that as a resident of Northumberland she was more than capable of serving the division.
She said: “I don’t think he has a right to be saying these things.
“It is not about people, it is about the party.
“It is quite arrogant to stand as an Independent candidate because he won’t be able to achieve as much without the Labour Party behind him.”
And Coun Pidcock added that it was right that her party tried to introduce more female candidates.
Earlier this week The Journal reported how Bill Ashbridge, David Montgomery and Ivan Hayes as well as Coun Paul Kelly were quitting the party to contest the May 1 elections as Independents after seeing nominations for their county council seats handed over to female candidates.
As a councillor of 11 years standing, I am being pushed aside to make way for someone from an entirely different constituency.
Apr 4 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal
AFORMER Labour councillor has criticised the “damaging” party policy that forced him to resign because of his gender and that could see a candidate who lives 23 miles from the ward being elected.
Northumberland county councillor Paul Kelly will stand as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming unitary elections, while the Labour candidate for his Bywell ward will be Seaton Delaval-based Mary Pidcock, currently a member of Blyth Valley Council.
Coun Kelly is one of a number of male Labour candidates who have not been allowed to contest their seats by the party as it is seeking to bring in more women candidates.
But Coun Kelly, who lives in Ovington, said: “As a councillor of 11 years standing and a great deal of experience, I am being pushed aside to make way for someone from an entirely different constituency.
“I have been forced to go Independent, which is not a choice I would take by inclination but it is the only route left that I can take.
“It is a very damaging policy that has been clumsily applied.”
Coun Kelly said that he had waited until the last possible minute before handing in his nomination paper, in case a late reprieve had allowed him to stand for the Labour Party.
He said: “I didn’t commit myself until it became clear that the regional director was not prepared to budge, and it wasn’t an easy thing to do. My whole family background is Labour.
“The Labour Party has abandoned me. I have been forced to go Independent because the people in my division deserve better than having an inexperienced and unknowledgeable candidate.” But Coun Pidcock defended her right to stand as the candidate, insisting that as a resident of Northumberland she was more than capable of serving the division.
She said: “I don’t think he has a right to be saying these things.
“It is not about people, it is about the party.
“It is quite arrogant to stand as an Independent candidate because he won’t be able to achieve as much without the Labour Party behind him.”
And Coun Pidcock added that it was right that her party tried to introduce more female candidates.
Earlier this week The Journal reported how Bill Ashbridge, David Montgomery and Ivan Hayes as well as Coun Paul Kelly were quitting the party to contest the May 1 elections as Independents after seeing nominations for their county council seats handed over to female candidates.
As a councillor of 11 years standing, I am being pushed aside to make way for someone from an entirely different constituency.
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