Post by mark1968 on May 10, 2014 13:30:46 GMT
This story from the York Press
Sheriff of York Brian Watson axed by Labour - UPDATED: Full statement from Cllr Watson
THE Sheriff of York has been dramatically axed by his party after 35 years.
Brian Watson, the city's longest-serving councillor, was first elected in 1979 but has been deselected by Labour ahead of next year's City of York Council elections.
Cllr Watson, who represents the city-centre ward of Guildhall, is a former Lord Mayor but was told by a selection panel that he lacked the "strong campaigning background, evidence of engagement with the community and political judgment" required.
He has lost an appeal against the decision and has now resigned from Labour, and will be an independent councillor for the next 12 months.
Cllr Watson called the claims "an insult" and would not be drawn on whether he would stand again as an independent candidate next May. The selection panel was made of three Labour party members, none of whom is a York councillor.
He said he hoped to keep his deselection private while he completed his year as Sheriff, to avoid distracting from civic events, but spoke out after the news was leaked to The Press.
Cllr Watson said he was criticised for not joining colleagues on canvassing drives on Saturdays, but said: "My Saturdays mornings are reserved for me to see people with problems that I have not managed to see during the week.
"This year, while being Sheriff, most Saturdays are taken up carrying out this role or catching up on domestic issues also, but obviously these things were not considered strong enough reasons to not go knocking on doors.
"Also the fact that in my interview I did not mention Government cuts to the council meant, in the panel's eyes, I was not “politically aware” and I also failed on my community involvement
"After 35 years of being a councillor, both on City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council I find all these an insult to myself, delivered by people from out of the city and one man from York who is not a councillor and has no idea of what goes on behind the scenes, but who I believe has been influenced by people who resent questioning of policies and actions of the group.
"It is strange because that should be what we are about but really that is not the case - the rule now is “to question is to dissent”. In this I admit I am guilty as charged!"
He added: "After all my years as a union rep and a councillor it is sad to depart from the group in these circumstances but I feel I have no alternative. To all the people of Guildhall Ward may I take this opportunity to say how grateful I am for their support over the years and I am still their elected Councillor and will still work just as strongly and dedicatedly on their behalf."
He thanked colleagues who supported his appeal but said he expected other Labour councillors to try to discredit his comments. He also said he feared Labour wanted to move someone else from a marginal seat to his safe seat.
Labour leader James Alexander said: “I’m sorry to hear of Brian’s decision having got on well with him for a number of years and having previously nominated him for an award for his long service.
“Standing for re-election is a process independent of the council Labour group that all Labour councillors have gone through and I supported Brian in his appeal following this decision of the party.
“I respect his decision and the Labour group will continue to focus on its priorities of jobs and homes for York residents. I look forward to continuing to work with Brian constructively."
Viv Kind, chair of York Labour Party, said: “It is very sad to that Cllr Brian Watson has decided to become an independent councillor after many years in the Labour Party. As one of York’s longest serving councillors, Brian has given years of dedicated service to the Labour group.
"The job of a councillor has become much more demanding in recent years, so the Labour Party’s selection process has to be rigorous for all candidates. Brian has used the Labour Party’s regional appeals process – with support from Cllr James Alexander – but sadly was not reselected.”
Cllr Brian Watson's full statement to The Press
It is true that I have not been selected for inclusion on the panel of prospective candidates for the next election.
Putting it bluntly the reasons quoted are that I do not go out “canvassing” as they do every Saturday. My Saturday mornings are reserved for me to see people with problems that I have not managed to see during the week. This year whilst being Sheriff most Saturdays are taken up carrying out this role or catching up on domestic issues also, but obviously these things were not considered strong enough reasons to not go knocking on doors. Also the fact that in my interview I did not mention Government cuts to the council meant, in the panels eyes, I was not “politically aware” and I also failed on my community involvement!
After 35 years of being a councillor, both on City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council I find all these an insult to myself, delivered by people from out of the city and one man from York who is not a councillor and has no idea of what goes on behind the scenes, but who I believe has been influenced by people who resent questioning of policies and actions of the group.
It is strange because that should be what we are about but really that is not the case - the rule now is “to question is to dissent”. In this I admit I am guilty as charged!
I am indebted to a number councillors who gave me support in my appeal, along with the Guildhall branch and individual members. The Guildhall branch have gone to great lengths in their support. They were prepared to stand by me in what has been a very testing period, Branch members accompanied me to my appeal hearing in Wakefield despite short notice and having to rearrange previous arrangements.
You may ask why as this just come to light, well, we have been going through quite a lengthy appeal process, we have had little success and the appeals board have, as expected, backed up the findings of the original panel, but what we have found out is that the local party have not stuck to the procedure and we have called for this to be a point for investigation.
I did try and keep this quiet till after the civic party vacated their role as it could have been a talking point at every function we attended and that would not have been fair to anyone but it now has leaked out so I have had to make this statement.
Of course there will be a great coming together of some members of the group to discredit my comments, but that is to be expected, there will also be some who are pleased that my removal,( from a ward that will become a three member ward at the next election,) will have opened a door for some members to change wards and enable them to contest a safer seat, there will be an assortment of reasons and excuses quoted but mark my words it will happen (maybe that was a factor behind the original decision!).
After all my years as a union rep and a councillor it is sad to depart from the group in these circumstances but I feel I have no alternative. To all the people of Guildhall Ward may I take this opportunity to say how grateful I am for their support over the years and I am still their elected Councillor and will still work just as strongly and dedicatedly on their behalf."
Cllr Brian.W.J.E.Watson
Guildhall Ward Councillor
This defection reduces Labour's majority on the city council to just one, two years ago Labour Councillor Lynn Jefferies resigned from the Labour group, spending several months as an Independent before joining the Liberal Democrats.
Current Make up of City of York Council
Labour 24
Con 9
Lib Dem 9
Independent 3 (only of one which was elected as Independent , 1 ex Lab, 1 ex Con)
Green 2
Sheriff of York Brian Watson axed by Labour - UPDATED: Full statement from Cllr Watson
THE Sheriff of York has been dramatically axed by his party after 35 years.
Brian Watson, the city's longest-serving councillor, was first elected in 1979 but has been deselected by Labour ahead of next year's City of York Council elections.
Cllr Watson, who represents the city-centre ward of Guildhall, is a former Lord Mayor but was told by a selection panel that he lacked the "strong campaigning background, evidence of engagement with the community and political judgment" required.
He has lost an appeal against the decision and has now resigned from Labour, and will be an independent councillor for the next 12 months.
Cllr Watson called the claims "an insult" and would not be drawn on whether he would stand again as an independent candidate next May. The selection panel was made of three Labour party members, none of whom is a York councillor.
He said he hoped to keep his deselection private while he completed his year as Sheriff, to avoid distracting from civic events, but spoke out after the news was leaked to The Press.
Cllr Watson said he was criticised for not joining colleagues on canvassing drives on Saturdays, but said: "My Saturdays mornings are reserved for me to see people with problems that I have not managed to see during the week.
"This year, while being Sheriff, most Saturdays are taken up carrying out this role or catching up on domestic issues also, but obviously these things were not considered strong enough reasons to not go knocking on doors.
"Also the fact that in my interview I did not mention Government cuts to the council meant, in the panel's eyes, I was not “politically aware” and I also failed on my community involvement
"After 35 years of being a councillor, both on City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council I find all these an insult to myself, delivered by people from out of the city and one man from York who is not a councillor and has no idea of what goes on behind the scenes, but who I believe has been influenced by people who resent questioning of policies and actions of the group.
"It is strange because that should be what we are about but really that is not the case - the rule now is “to question is to dissent”. In this I admit I am guilty as charged!"
He added: "After all my years as a union rep and a councillor it is sad to depart from the group in these circumstances but I feel I have no alternative. To all the people of Guildhall Ward may I take this opportunity to say how grateful I am for their support over the years and I am still their elected Councillor and will still work just as strongly and dedicatedly on their behalf."
He thanked colleagues who supported his appeal but said he expected other Labour councillors to try to discredit his comments. He also said he feared Labour wanted to move someone else from a marginal seat to his safe seat.
Labour leader James Alexander said: “I’m sorry to hear of Brian’s decision having got on well with him for a number of years and having previously nominated him for an award for his long service.
“Standing for re-election is a process independent of the council Labour group that all Labour councillors have gone through and I supported Brian in his appeal following this decision of the party.
“I respect his decision and the Labour group will continue to focus on its priorities of jobs and homes for York residents. I look forward to continuing to work with Brian constructively."
Viv Kind, chair of York Labour Party, said: “It is very sad to that Cllr Brian Watson has decided to become an independent councillor after many years in the Labour Party. As one of York’s longest serving councillors, Brian has given years of dedicated service to the Labour group.
"The job of a councillor has become much more demanding in recent years, so the Labour Party’s selection process has to be rigorous for all candidates. Brian has used the Labour Party’s regional appeals process – with support from Cllr James Alexander – but sadly was not reselected.”
Cllr Brian Watson's full statement to The Press
It is true that I have not been selected for inclusion on the panel of prospective candidates for the next election.
Putting it bluntly the reasons quoted are that I do not go out “canvassing” as they do every Saturday. My Saturday mornings are reserved for me to see people with problems that I have not managed to see during the week. This year whilst being Sheriff most Saturdays are taken up carrying out this role or catching up on domestic issues also, but obviously these things were not considered strong enough reasons to not go knocking on doors. Also the fact that in my interview I did not mention Government cuts to the council meant, in the panels eyes, I was not “politically aware” and I also failed on my community involvement!
After 35 years of being a councillor, both on City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council I find all these an insult to myself, delivered by people from out of the city and one man from York who is not a councillor and has no idea of what goes on behind the scenes, but who I believe has been influenced by people who resent questioning of policies and actions of the group.
It is strange because that should be what we are about but really that is not the case - the rule now is “to question is to dissent”. In this I admit I am guilty as charged!
I am indebted to a number councillors who gave me support in my appeal, along with the Guildhall branch and individual members. The Guildhall branch have gone to great lengths in their support. They were prepared to stand by me in what has been a very testing period, Branch members accompanied me to my appeal hearing in Wakefield despite short notice and having to rearrange previous arrangements.
You may ask why as this just come to light, well, we have been going through quite a lengthy appeal process, we have had little success and the appeals board have, as expected, backed up the findings of the original panel, but what we have found out is that the local party have not stuck to the procedure and we have called for this to be a point for investigation.
I did try and keep this quiet till after the civic party vacated their role as it could have been a talking point at every function we attended and that would not have been fair to anyone but it now has leaked out so I have had to make this statement.
Of course there will be a great coming together of some members of the group to discredit my comments, but that is to be expected, there will also be some who are pleased that my removal,( from a ward that will become a three member ward at the next election,) will have opened a door for some members to change wards and enable them to contest a safer seat, there will be an assortment of reasons and excuses quoted but mark my words it will happen (maybe that was a factor behind the original decision!).
After all my years as a union rep and a councillor it is sad to depart from the group in these circumstances but I feel I have no alternative. To all the people of Guildhall Ward may I take this opportunity to say how grateful I am for their support over the years and I am still their elected Councillor and will still work just as strongly and dedicatedly on their behalf."
Cllr Brian.W.J.E.Watson
Guildhall Ward Councillor
This defection reduces Labour's majority on the city council to just one, two years ago Labour Councillor Lynn Jefferies resigned from the Labour group, spending several months as an Independent before joining the Liberal Democrats.
Current Make up of City of York Council
Labour 24
Con 9
Lib Dem 9
Independent 3 (only of one which was elected as Independent , 1 ex Lab, 1 ex Con)
Green 2
