Ho ho ho!
Sorry this is a bit unseasonal, but it's news today and won't be shortly:---------------------------------------------------------------------From the most recent "Viewpoints" newsletter, published by members of the Labour Party in Brentford & Isleworth:"Can things get any worse for the Labour Party in Hounslow? Membership has plummeted - except in Hounslow Central ward where multiple recruiting by men desperate to be selected as local Labour candidates have been signing up friends and family. This familiar fiasco has led to the Constituency Party being suspended by Head Office."Our MPs are getting a lot of publicity. 'Farce of Mr. and Mrs. Expenses' says the front page of the Evening Standard. 'Husband and wife Labour MPs Alan and Ann Keen are each claiming £17,000 housing allowance despite living nine miles from Westminster. The couple represent neighbouring seats in west London and share a house in Brentford'. The couple, says the Standard, have not broken any rules. Maybe not but is it very clever to use the rules so blatantly and claim a double allowance? No wonder they can afford a second home in Covent Garden."Then there is the strange case of Ann Keen's son, Mark Lloyd-Fox, (who also lives at the home in Brentford according to the electoral register.) He is in the property development business and was caught out making anonymous phone calls to Planning Committee Councillors. He isn't even bright enough to make sure the calls couldn't be traced and the police got involved. Thankfully he just received a warning on this occasion."Then there is the free skip that the Labour Deputy whip on Hounslow Council had delivered, saying it was for community use and then, it is alleged, got filled up with his own unwanted material. The Labour Group, led by Alan Keen's employee Colin Ellar, won't investigate this and the only action taken by the Labour Group was to expel the Councillor who drew attention to the skip incident, ex-leader and mayor John Connelly, and that wasn't done in accordance with Labour Party rules so more will be heard about that."All this comes after years of dodgy practices on the Constiteuncy General Committee where a host of GMB delegates turn up once a year to vote in Ann Keen's favoured comrades and are never seen again for twelve months - unless something crops up that our MP wants fixed."Hounslow has a terrible reputation across London in Labour Party circles. The word 'Hounslowesque' is a collective expression that stands for shadowy planning practices, domination of the Labour Council group by MPs, and just plain comical antics. Hounslow provides the best free comedy show in London."When is something going to be done about this? We are on course to lose at least one MP at the general election next year and control of the council the year after. We have a suspended party, MPs whose reputations are tarnished and a Council that is the laughing stock of London. The local party cannot do anything because it is in the iron grip of the MP. The only hope is that those members who care about the Party write to the London Labour Party or the National Labour Party and urge them to step in before it is too late."----------------------------------------------------------------------POSTSCRIPT: Last week the Brentford & Isleworth CLP sent out an appeal to its members, including those who are lapsed or only recently joined, urging them to volunteer to the Selection Group Panel for possible selection as local election candidates. Desperate times call for desperate measures!Merry Christmas.
Phil Andrews ● 7711d5 Comments