by
Les May
AT
first sight it might
seem that the most important political development in Rochdale in
recent days is the
decision of two well known Labour figures to join the Brexit party.
But any crowing from
Labour’s opponents may be short lived. If it’s
members get their way
it’s raison
d’être
will vanish on the first of November. Only if
they
fail will it have any further reason to exist. Either way it looks
like a move into a political cul de sac.
Of
more long term significance is the decision of Councillor
Jacqui Beswick
to
resign the Labour whip and sit as an Independent.
She
is reported to have taken
the decision due to the way the party had handled false allegations
against her. She
has said
‘I
believed that after the local elections my complaint would be dealt
with, sadly that wasn't the case and I have been told recently that
it could be quite some time before that happens’.
There
is rather more background to this story than is apparent from this
statement.
About
six months ago I attended a meeting of people with a background in
the Labour movement, Labour activists and supporters, and some with a
Trades Union background. Most lived in the Heywood and Middleton
constituency. Also
present at
the meeting was John
Blundell
who
represents a ward in the Rochdale constituency. From the start it
was clear that there was some antagonism towards him and his presence
was not welcomed by a majority of the people at the meeting.
A
number
of people at the meeting were aware that another
Labour councillor had
made serious allegations against Councillor
Beswick
and wanted to discuss the matter further. The unwelcome Councillor
Blundell
managed
to block any discussion by suggesting
that
repeating the allegations might be construed
as defamatory
and that the allegations were ‘under
investigation’.
There
were a lot of people at the meeting who will remember what Councillor
Blundell
said
and
a
recording of exactly what he
said may exist. I
don’t think anyone present will believe a word he says in the
future and it may be that some will conclude that he was lying.
The
treatment of Councillor
Beswick
by
the Labour leadership of
Rochdale council looks very much like what is known in trades union
terms as ‘Constructive
Dismissal’.
A
Labour councillor has a right to expect that when allegations are
made against them they will be investigated by the party within a
reasonable time frame. The failure to do this is analogous to a
‘repudiatory
breach’
in employment terms.
There
exists a significant lack of trust in the Labour leadership in
Rochdale amongst many people who are otherwise solidly behind the
Labour party. Labour politics in Rochdale has been described to me
on a number of occasions as ‘a cess pit’. The treatment of
Jacqui
Beswick will
do nothing to sweeten
the smell from it.
More
details can be found at;
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