The Croydon Labour Party Local Campaign Forum looks increasingly foolish over its decision to hold a hearing to decide whether Andrew Pelling can stand for Waddon Ward the Council in May. A date for a hearing has not yet been agreed.
Andrew has been told he can have a friend with him at the hearing who is not a lawyer and who will not be allowed to speak. The LCF has put together a 48 page document containing various articles from Inside Croydon, Andrew’s social media postings and my articles on this blog. It contains no charges.
Over the last couple of days Andrew has posted on developments posted on his Twitter and Facebook accounts. He has written a note to LCF:
‘It is 6 days since your last communication. This morning marks 100 days to election day. Is it the LCF’s intention to keep running down the clock such that my rescindment case is just not heard before nominations close?’
He also posted on Facebook:
‘If you oppose this running down of the clock do please sign the petition. I am accused of talking to the press, talking about the accusation of talking to the press and abusing the word “rescinded” in public this word having been proscribed by the LCF.’
On Twitter he has thanked Croydon South Labour Party which has decided to withhold £5,000 donation to the May elections campaign whilst his candidacy remains rescinded by the LCF.
‘Thank you so much to Croydon South Labour party members for their solidarity to my cause this evening with real effective action. I’m very touched. I take this as a rejection of unfortunate comments earlier in meeting about my character & my supposed need to make an effort.’
He explains more about this on Facebook:
‘I am really touched by the unprompted determined stand of comrades in solidarity with my cause at the Croydon South CLP meeting this evening.
We are not going to allow a small, indirectly elected set of Croydon North and Croydon Central representatives in a rump LCF where 5 other members are banned from attending dictate to Croydon South CLP, its members and to Waddon voters.
Not only was solidarity shown but it was backed by a real effective and significant financial sanction.
This showed that members really meant it when one after another spoke of their disgust and took action, not just words.
I also took this strong action to be a rejection of unfortunate comments earlier in meeting about my character & the suggestion that I need to make an effort and to talk sensibly.’
Whatever the motives of the leadership of the LCF are, the Labour Group of Councillors has not withdrawn the Whip from Andrew. He remains a Labour Councillor. Presumably this is because such action would highlight the fact that it has not withdrawn the whip from Alison Butler and Paul Scott, who contributed so much to the creation of the financial crisis, especially Brick by Brick. Further Butler as Cabinet member was in charge while the scandalous operation of housing management and maintenance was happening. Also under her watch was the failure of the officers to submit the proposed new landlord licensing scheme in compliance with Government requirements leading to its rejection.
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