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WALTHAM FOREST: School fine mayor is new education boss

4:23pm Friday 22nd May 2009


A COUNCILLOR who was fined for taking his child out of school is the new cabinet member responsible for education in Waltham Forest.

Cllr Liaquat Ali was last year prosecuted for taking his daughter on a pilgrimage without permission while serving as mayor.

The appointment by new council leader Chris Robbins is likely to prove controversial as the department of children and young people plays a lead role in punishing parents who break the rules.

Cllr Matt Davis, Conservative group leader, said: "Only in Waltham Forest could the only councillor convicted of keeping his own child out of school illegally be put in charge of children's services.

"This may well appear like there is one rule for politicians and another for everybody else."

Cllr Davis said Cllr Ali may have a problem with credibility because of the prosection.

Cllr Adam Gladstone, speaking on behalf of the Labour group, said: "It is on public record that Cllr Ali was fined but he paid up and we don't see how this would affect his capability to do a good job in the very wide field of children and young people."

Cllr Ali was fined £200 while he was Mayor after failing to pay an initial fine for taking his child out of school.

But the council asked for the fine to be rescinded at Redbridge Magistrates Court after a £100 cheque was discovered in a town hall safe.

Deputy council leader Cllr John Macklin has had finance added to his portfolio, while Cllr Keith Rayner will now be responsible for "performance, risk and governance."

The rest of the cabinet positions remain unchanged, Cllr Terry Wheeler remains cabinet member for enterprise despite speculation he would be axed.


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Techno2, Walthamstow says...
5:22pm Fri 22 May 09

More taxpayers' money being wasted on a man whose abilities in no way measure up to the task at hand. This is all simply because of internal party political calculations. Mr Ali may have many fine qualities, no doubt, but he is also basically not bright enough to find out where all the money has been disappearing from the budgets which will be under his control. No doubt that is why Robbins has put him there.

Why have the LibDems decided to tolerate this farce?

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LarryTLemur, Walthamstow says...
5:42pm Fri 22 May 09

Proof (if needed) that the lunatics really have taken over the political asylum that is WF council. Watch this space for more revelations.

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KWyatt-Lown, says...
6:43pm Fri 22 May 09

The sad and stark reality of the situation in Waltham Forest seems to be that the ruling group really are shuffling the Titanic deckchairs.

You have to assume that the only reason they should appoint someone with so proven a low regard for the education system as Cllr Ali to manage that very portfolio, as well as continue to allow Cllr Terry “due diligence” Wheeler to retain Enterprise is that they really and truly have no one else.

At a time when the nation, never mind the local community, has an all time low esteem for anyone tainted with the accolade “politician”, we actually need dynamic, strong leadership and governance as never before. Until we do and, most especially see new blood, including many more young people, who are willing to step up to the plate, this is the sad, tired and past it’s sell by date bunch the Borough is saddled with.

We have twelve months from now to the Borough elections. If ever there was a call to arms to anyone, regardless of their party politics, to get involved and plan for change in the coming year, this is it.

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JohnCharteris, Walthamstow says...
10:00pm Fri 22 May 09

A new leader and Terry Wheeler is still in the Cabinet? Unbelievable.

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mdj, e10 says...
10:19pm Fri 22 May 09

'But the council asked for the fine to be rescinded at Redbridge Magistrates Court after a £100 cheque was discovered in a town hall safe.'
Just to recap that story, LBWF went back to court THREE times to help acquit someone they'd prosecuted in the first place, who just happened to be the Mayor (and a magistrate): the only way they could do it was to convince the court that they were monumentally incompetent, which of course was all too easy to believe.
It seems that the Lib Dems are committed to going into the next election chained to Labour's corpse: is this what Mr Clegg told them was the best position? It does at least save them the expense of printing a manifesto, just one of those tourist T-shirts that says, We're With This Idiot.


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Sugarplum, Chingford says...
12:38pm Sat 23 May 09

people are always very quick to "condemn" Cllr Ali's case was not as straightforward as the press reported. He paid the fine and moved on. Get over it.

Because of this experience I feel sure that Cllr Ali will be very aware of the pitfalls etc. He has brought vast talents and cohesion to the council, and I feel sure will continue to do so in his new role. Cllr Robbins is showing good acumen in this appointment, especially as he was the previous holder of this portfolio.

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Investigations, Victoria BC says...
6:15pm Sat 23 May 09

Simply a clash of cultures - if he had transferred his child to a madrasah would there have been a legal problem? If we wish to live in the Swat Valley we should move there. I'll vote for Liaquat as Mayor of Gandhara!

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bluewhale, Essex says...
7:10pm Sat 23 May 09

What a disgrace! Such hypocrisy, so endemic in our government! Britain is in such a sorry state isn't it?

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Walthamster, Walthamstow says...
4:31pm Sun 24 May 09

Sugarplum, you say "Cllr Ali's case was not as straightforward as the press reported."

Please tell us what was untrue in the reporting of this case? No one has come up with this before. And do you not understand that paying a fine is the penalty for an offence, not a way of wiping it off the record?

Ali was a magistrate as well as being mayor of Waltham Forest. If he gets away with breaking the rules -- and being put in charge of education IS getting away with it! -- why should anyone else obey them?

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Cllr Matt Davis, Chingford says...
6:26pm Sun 24 May 09

Sugarplum; Cllr Ali's previous tenure in this role was so successful that he was summarily removed from both the Portfolio and the Cabinet. His reinstatement has got everything to do with the deals Cllr Robbins needed to do to secure the Leadership of the Council and absolutely nothing at all to do with anything else, least of all experience or ability, neither of which are ever taken into account by Labour when selecting their portfolio holders.

Give yourself a reality check please!

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Pamella, Highams Park says...
3:04pm Tue 26 May 09

I am astounded this person is in charge of Education - he can barely speak English!` God help all our kids once he starts meddling!

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Silversurfer, Walthamstow says...
3:35pm Tue 26 May 09

It was always a sore point with me that our Head would not criticise parents who took their children to India or Pakistan (sometimes for 6 or more weeks) but would not approve a 2 week holiday for a child whose attendance was otherwise very good.

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savethecountyground, leytonstone says...
3:38pm Tue 26 May 09

What a sterling appointment for the post, I can now rest in peace assured that my childrens education is in safe hands.
They cannot be serious can they?

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Sugarplum, Chingford says...
4:27pm Tue 26 May 09

I really can not understand why everybody is condemning Cllr Ali so much. I know for a fact that he actually does care for the WHOLE community of our borough, and will do all that he can to ensure that our children's education will be just as we all expect. Savethecountyground can rest assured his/her children's education is in safe hands. And Cllr Ali's english is as good as anyones, a ridiculous comment by Pamella. And before anyone wonders, no I am not Asian!!! Watch Cllr Ali, I am sure that you will all be pleasantly surprised.


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Walthamster, Walthamstow says...
4:59pm Tue 26 May 09

Sugarplum, I'd love to watch Cllr Ali, as you suggest. But how?

As he's one of my ward councillors, I've often asked him for help on local issues. But he's never answered my emails. When I've gone to his surgery, he hasn't turned up. When local groups have organised meetings, no sign of councillor Ali.

I've only ever seen him in photos of council stunts. How do we get invited to those, Sugarplum?


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Walthamster, Walthamstow says...
5:02pm Tue 26 May 09

PS, I've just noticed Matt Davis's comment that this is Cllr Ali's second try as head of education: "Cllr Ali's previous tenure in this role was so successful that he was summarily removed from both the Portfolio and the Cabinet"

So Sugarplum, why are we likely to be "pleasantly surprised" this time?

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Geoffwalthamstow, Walthamstow says...
6:08pm Tue 26 May 09

Matt Davis get your facts right, Cllr Ali was cabinet member for communities Engagment & Equality before he became Deputy Mayor and then subsequently served as mayor in 2007/2008. He was officially confirmed as one of the busiest mayor who seerved the whole community in Waltham forest. I attended his civic carol concert, his christmas tree lighting at the town hall, he was the first mayor to celebrate St Georges/St Patricks day officially in Waltham Forest Town Hall and many other cultural events for all Faiths, it proves he is the best person to serve all the communities.

Keep up the good work Cllr Ali dont get distracted by silly remarks.

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Cllr Matt Davis, Chingford says...
6:15pm Tue 26 May 09

Nice to see the local Labour party activists defending their man to the bitter end, whatever the actual facts may or may not be. Shame that they never bother to try to hold them to account for their failures, incomptetence and arrogance.

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ace1, Walthamstow says...
6:33pm Tue 26 May 09

Cllr Ali congratulations on being appointed Cabinet Member for Children and Young people and i am overjoyed that Cllr Ali has taken this important post, with his track record of serving the community as councillor since 1994 and has lived in the borough for over 40 years

in my humble opinion he has all the right attributes to make a first class success of this position and be able to improve the education of our children in the borough. many of the remarks here are complete nonsense one person mentioned he cant speak english councillor is a very educated man and speaks very fluent english, i have met him in the surgery many times regarding local issues. i am proud to have you serve our young and vibrant community.

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Brendasfriend, Leyton says...
11:17am Wed 27 May 09

I'd love to see our local politicians' activities investigated. We probably all know of 'deals' and unethical goings on that we could swear are happening but just can't prove. If we were proved wrong it would be wonderful - how life-affirming to know they were in it for our sakes!

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Techno2, Walthamstow says...
5:59pm Wed 27 May 09

ace1 wrote:
Cllr Ali congratulations on being appointed Cabinet Member for Children and Young people and i am overjoyed that Cllr Ali has taken this important post, with his track record of serving the community as councillor since 1994 and has lived in the borough for over 40 years in my humble opinion he has all the right attributes to make a first class success of this position and be able to improve the education of our children in the borough. many of the remarks here are complete nonsense one person mentioned he cant speak english councillor is a very educated man and speaks very fluent english, i have met him in the surgery many times regarding local issues. i am proud to have you serve our young and vibrant community.
What actually is Mr Ali's educational background, as a matter of interest. Does anyone know?

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Geoffwalthamstow, Walthamstow says...
12:58pm Fri 29 May 09

Grow up guys give the man a chance and let see what he can do.
i have checked up in the guardian Cllr Ali was only fined NOT PROSECUTED, which he paid, just like any citizen of this borough would and lets not forget he had taken his child to a Pilgramage which is essential in his religion,not a holiday.

i am sure he is the best man for the job and will do an excellent job in his new role.

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Cllr Liaquat Ali is the new cabinet member of children and young people Cllr Liaquat Ali is the new cabinet member of children and young people


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