WALTHAM FOREST: Top Lib Dems ditched following row (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
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WALTHAM FOREST: Top Lib Dems ditched following row
12:45pm Wednesday 7th April 2010 in News By Carl Brown
THE Liberal Democrat local election campaign is in disarray after it emerged that three senior councillors, including the council’s deputy leader, have been ditched by the party.
Hopes that the Lib Dems, who currently run the council in coalition with Labour, could become the biggest party look to be in ruins after the party confirmed leader John Macklin, cabinet member for environment Bob Belam and chief whip Bob Carey will not stand for the party on May 6.
A party spokesman admitted the move was the result of an internal dispute, but did not provide any further detail.
But the Guardian understands the party’s decision to ditch the three followed a bitter row over an attempt by members sitting on the Walthamstow executive to de-select Cllr Carey, who represents Chapel End ward with Cllrs Macklin and Belam.
Cllr Macklin admitted there has been concern about the executive’s candidate selection for some time.
He said: “There has been a dispute about issues around candidates selected in several wards, including Chapel End.
“There has been concern about inappropriate candidates being selected for target level seats.
“The issue has been going on for several months and I don't think it is something that has been completely resolved.
“Myself, Bob Carey and Bob Belam are the best people to represent Chapel End ward because we have worked the area for years and have listened and acted on residents' complaints.”
Cllr Macklin said he was “bitterly disappointed” that he was having to talk in public about the row and conceded it is “not good” for the party.
He added that he had not decided whether to stand as an independent.
A spokesman for the Lib Dem London region party said: "The local and regional executive have agreed the conclusion of internal mediation and no members have been suspended.”
The Walthamstow Executive is made up of members and activists including Cllr Johar Khan, Cllr Bob Wheatley and Walthamstow parliamentary candidate Farid Ahmed.
Comments(76)
Helen, Walthamstow
says...
1:14pm Wed 7 Apr 10
He has been bombarding the Walthamstow electorate with letters and leaflets for months now, to the point where I for one am sick to death of hearing from him and his offerings now go straight from the doorstep to the recycling bag.
I think we should know why he and his colleagues now see fit to deselect long-standing councillors.
RichieA70
says...
2:04pm Wed 7 Apr 10
marsdan
says...
2:38pm Wed 7 Apr 10
April Showers
says...
3:16pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Pamella
says...
3:22pm Wed 7 Apr 10
April Showers
says...
3:36pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Dave Hall
says...
3:36pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Upset the apple cart!
"Once-ever" is the security word...
Janet1
says...
3:40pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Janet1
says...
3:46pm Wed 7 Apr 10
lillybet1
says...
4:19pm Wed 7 Apr 10
jack de large
says...
5:40pm Wed 7 Apr 10
I cannot say that I am sad to see the back of Liberal Democrats generally but regarding the comments around Councillor Johar Khan, I don't think he believes he will win in Enfield but I do think he believes he can become leader of the Liberal Democrats with the help of Mr Ahmed. I am surprised that councillors are allowed to make these kind of judgements over fellow councillors. It will be interesting to see who the Liberal Democrats put in as their replacement. I have frequently said in these comments that I believe the Labour Party has been harmed by its association with the Liberal Democrats, they are not a party who believe in anything other than the desire for power and influence, I believe many members of the Labour group will regret giving these parasites the opportunity to spread.
As for the Chapel End Ward I doubt that either the Labour Party or the Conservative Party could mount a credible challenge at this late stage.
April Showers
says...
6:14pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Janet1
says...
6:45pm Wed 7 Apr 10
place!
But what am I saying, When I was 19 I thought I knew everything too.
jack de large
says...
6:49pm Wed 7 Apr 10
I do not want to get off the point here, when I see this kind of political shenanigans, I get genuinely concerned for the borough in which I live. I can't help feeling there is an agenda here which we are not seeing.
Silent Majority 2009
says...
7:53pm Wed 7 Apr 10
April Showers
says...
8:22pm Wed 7 Apr 10
April Showers
says...
8:32pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Earle Martin
says...
8:52pm Wed 7 Apr 10
wheeler_dealer_of Cathall
says...
10:32pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Robert19
says...
11:15pm Wed 7 Apr 10
The remedies are difficult and cannot be done retrospectively often for fear of being accused of racism. However actions such as visiting people wanting to join your Party at their homes to make sure they have applied for membership, having a waiting period before people can vote for candidates etc are important devices. It also shows the weakness of political parties when leading councillors can be deselected so near to an election. A political disaster. I'm still not smiling.
Janet1
says...
11:48pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Shortly afterwards, I heard he had proposed a motion to the full council. About libraries? No – calling for independence for Kashmir. Very relevant, useful and respectful of overseas governments (not).
Johar Khan did turn up at a meeting held by John Macklin with the library campaign, about our efforts to get St James Street Library reopened as a community centre. Not showing the slightest interest, Cllr Khan did at least manage to stifle his yawns, though I fear he may have injured his jaw in doing so.
I had a piece of Lib Dem propaganda through my door last week showing “campaigners” Johar Khan and Farid Ahmed “fighting to stop a drug centre”. It’s true, the one thing the Lib Dems did for us was when the council planned to put the building permanently out of community use by reopening it as a drug centre. Yes, they stood and held placards while a photographer took photos. Thanks a bundle, lads, that was a huge effort.
But proving they’re not totally ineffective, a bunch of LibDems have now given the Labour group a boost it couldn’t have hoped for.
We can still retrieve something from this mess. LibDems have till midday on Thursday 8 April to stand as independents in the council elections. The rest of us should vote for independents where we have one standing: Mike Gold is the independent in High Street ward.
Mr Bernard
says...
12:43am Thu 8 Apr 10
They are a party of opportunists like Johar who seem to have no real connection to Waltham Forest or its people anymore and merely seek to gain votes by feeding us what they think we want to hear followed by no action. After the mess that they, with Labour, have made of this borough they do not deserve Chapel End ward or any other for that matter!
Janet1
says...
12:49am Thu 8 Apr 10
E17006
says...
3:42am Thu 8 Apr 10
Sickening.
lillybet1
says...
7:14am Thu 8 Apr 10
As for the high street ward I was born and bred in this section of walthamstow and I have seen changes sometimes not for the better. However all I can confirm is that if anything has to be done James O'Rourke has been the one knocking on doors talking to the residents of this ward, listening to their views and actually got results WELL DONE. If anyone knows Coppermill Lane the tree roots were dangerous and caused injury to a resident. James O'Rourke was made aware of this and lo and behold they have been fixed....... the fence on the playground had been pulleld down by youths several times James was made aware of this and it was Fixed. When I was a kid there was a programme called "Jim'll Fix It" and will say that if James O'Rourke goes independent then my vote will go with him because he does work hard to please the RESIDENTS and they are the ones paying for this. I am going say good luck to James O'Rourke you will get my vote if you stand independent but not if Johar Khan is involved. Let him go to Enfield and do nothing that's a wage that the residents of Walthamstow don't have to pay.
jack de large
says...
8:10am Thu 8 Apr 10
Reading Techno2's comment (excellent) makes me wonder what will happen to the Labour Group, I don't want to be accused of overreacting (I really don't think I know everything) but are we going to see some kind of a similar coup with Cllr Robins replaced by someone with more acceptable credentials, Cllr Ali or Cllr Akram perhaps.
Helen, Walthamstow
says...
9:48am Thu 8 Apr 10
lillybet1
says...
9:52am Thu 8 Apr 10
Techno2
says...
10:11am Thu 8 Apr 10
Helen, Walthamstow wrote:Anyway, the point has been made - people should understand that is going on: the LibDems have a problem with a relatively newly formed faction that has entered the party, centred around Mr Khan and Farid Ahmed. They have tried to stage a coup in some wards and run the party's general election campaign from the top down using money and bought-in manpower rather than activists, in the weird belief that the electorate wouldn't notice.
Why has Techno2's main comment been removed as well as two others? I do hope it is not because Johar Khan and Farid Ahmed have complained. They have put themselves up for election and taken part in a process that has prevented leading members of their party from standing in election, and now they have to take the flack or provide a sesnible explanation for their decisions.
lillybet1
says...
11:56am Thu 8 Apr 10
lillybet1
says...
11:58am Thu 8 Apr 10
lillybet1
says...
12:03pm Thu 8 Apr 10
ceegriffin
says...
12:55pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Jayish
says...
1:07pm Thu 8 Apr 10
I am certain the Lid Dem Walthamstow executive and the London Regional must have done every thing in their power to avoid this from happening. Deselecting any high ranking candidate must have been a very difficult decision to make and not taken lightly by any party.
May be there was something seriously flowed with the three deselected councillors.
From what I know they have been councillors for quiet some time now and we all know what happens to those who are left in power too long, remember Magi Thatcher’s and then Tony Blair.
May be we should applause the Lib Dems for risking all to get their house in order. May be we should all now give them our full support.
Techno2
says...
1:56pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Jayish wrote:The LibDems at a National level
May be all of us who are crucifying the Lib Dems should stand back and think as to why would a party get rid of the high ranking councillors this late in the run up to the election? I am certain the Lid Dem Walthamstow executive and the London Regional must have done every thing in their power to avoid this from happening. Deselecting any high ranking candidate must have been a very difficult decision to make and not taken lightly by any party. May be there was something seriously flowed with the three deselected councillors. From what I know they have been councillors for quiet some time now and we all know what happens to those who are left in power too long, remember Magi Thatcher’s and then Tony Blair. May be we should applause the Lib Dems for risking all to get their house in order. May be we should all now give them our full support.
were warned about Johar Khan's behaviour well in advance of the recent events - which are only the latest in a long process lasting a couple of years. I do not know why they failed to nip this in the bud, but there you are. Not everyone in politics is as smart as they like to think they are.
The silence you allude to from the various councillors has mystified a lot of people. I hope that we will eventually find out from the deselected Councillors what they have been having to put up with and why they were so reluctant to let everyone know what was going on. There could be legal reasons of cource. Mr Khan, Mr Ahmed and Bob Wheatley also owe explanations to the public for thier part in this fiasco. This party does, after all, form part of the current administration, as well as aspiring to have a future in the next one, and Mr Ahmed is trying to get elected to Parliament.
Jayish
says...
3:27pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Fedupwithitall
says...
4:05pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Jayish wrote:Actually Jayish, I for one am grateful for Techno's insight into this unpleasant affair, which is as bad as the Labour deselection fiasco when candidates were eventually imposed in some wards. We need people to blow the lid on what many of us have long suspected were morally corrupt goings-on amongst our local representatives. Thanks for keeping us informed Techno2.
I think you should stay focused on the issue in the article Techno2 and refrain from dragging other candidates into this issue. It sounds like you have a personal axe to grind with Councillor Khan and Mr. Ahmed or you are waving the flag for one of the other Parties or even the deselected candidates. Ooh your comment reeks of venom.
Helen, Walthamstow
says...
5:04pm Thu 8 Apr 10
He is helping to uncover a worrying trend in local politics over, perhaps, the last 15 years that needs to be stopped now before it distorts all politics in this borough, this city or this country.
I just hope the Guardian will not let what has happened with the Lib Dems slip off the radar. The people concerned must answer to the electorate for what they have done.
wheeler_dealer_of Cathall
says...
5:14pm Thu 8 Apr 10
However, I have to admit that this is very similar to what happened to the Labour lot recently - a coup manufactured by certain individuals. They ended up deselecting Black councillors such as Milton Martin and replacing them with unknowns such as Naheed (councillor Asghar's daughter). Clearly not a decision based on competencies or experience.
In reply to the comment about having good reason to deselect standing councillors, I would only like to say that in this case (and that of Labour) that the only reason for deselection is due to personal favours and personal agendas, and that these agendas always seem to be more important to these sickening individuals than the parties they serve.
Lets face it, these local elections are more about personalities than parties.
Good luck to the 3 deselected Lib- dems.
Janet1
says...
5:23pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Jayish wrote:Your comment is strange, Jayish. I’ve reread Techno2’s comment twice and cannot see what you are complaining about. Techno is focusing on the issue. Your own sympathies seem to lie with the people who deselected sitting councillors, including the party leader, in the run-up to an election. To the rest of us, that looks like electoral suicide. I feel sorry for genuine Liberals who have given years of activism to this party – and I’m not even a LibDem supporter.
I think you should stay focused on the issue in the article Techno2 and refrain from dragging other candidates into this issue. It sounds like you have a personal axe to grind with Councillor Khan and Mr. Ahmed or you are waving the flag for one of the other Parties or even the deselected candidates. Ooh your comment reeks of venom.
I have no axe to grind for any of the parties. But a LibDem majority would have brought a much-needed change of power. I am disgusted that this ham-fisted politicking has damaged hopes of cleaning out this council.
Jayish
says...
5:35pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Well tried any way!!
Fedupwithitall
says...
5:44pm Thu 8 Apr 10
wheeler_dealer_of Cathall wrote:Unfortunately Wheeler_dealer you too seem to have an axe to grind and are perpetuating the myth that surrounds the Labour deselections. Yes, there were some black councillors deselected but there were also asian councillors deselected too, notably Faiz Yunis and Tarsem Bhogal. You're entitled to your opinion that Naheed Asghar is both incompetent and inexperienced, but having met her on several ocassions I am convinced neither is true. You also don't seem to credit the electorate with much intelligence when it comes to voting - I think the majority of us are intelligent enough to look beyond the personalities and examine the policies.
Techno2 is obviously an insider to know so much of what is happening within the libdems. However it seems s/he is not helping the libdems with such comments, and like Jayish, I think s/he has a personal axe to grind. However, I have to admit that this is very similar to what happened to the Labour lot recently - a coup manufactured by certain individuals. They ended up deselecting Black councillors such as Milton Martin and replacing them with unknowns such as Naheed (councillor Asghar's daughter). Clearly not a decision based on competencies or experience. In reply to the comment about having good reason to deselect standing councillors, I would only like to say that in this case (and that of Labour) that the only reason for deselection is due to personal favours and personal agendas, and that these agendas always seem to be more important to these sickening individuals than the parties they serve. Lets face it, these local elections are more about personalities than parties. Good luck to the 3 deselected Lib- dems.
Janet1
says...
5:47pm Thu 8 Apr 10
As i said, I'm not a LibDem myself, but I hate to see what's being done to a once-respected political party.
April Showers
says...
5:50pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Helen, Walthamstow
says...
6:32pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Jayish wrote:If anyone is insulting out intelligence, Jayish, it's you.
Fedupwithitall (it's obvious you are) It is also obvious that you hold a very limited knowledge of what lengths members of the other parties and discredited candidates will go to, to try and discredit other worthy candidates or opponents. It is a shame that you fall for such obvious juvenile tactics that insult not only your inelegance but also the inelegance of others commenting on this topic. Well tried any way!!
For several reasons, I'm well aware that these shenanigans have been going on in at least one other party for over a decade. That doesn't excuse the Lib Dems who can no longer take the moral high ground because two of their high profile members in this borough have been part of a group forcing out, among others, their own party's leader in the council. Ye gods! What stupidity is that!
Worthy candidates? That is definitely in question now.
Angel786
says...
6:46pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Angel786
jack de large
says...
10:31pm Thu 8 Apr 10
As for the comments posted by Jayish s/he seems to be suggesting that there was something dodgy about the Chapel End Councillors, although I have a degree of distaste for Liberal Democrats generally I do not believe that the reason they were deselected has anything to do with them personally or with their integrity as Councillors and it is shameful for Jayish to suggest such a thing. I think they were just in the way. I read nothing in these comments to suggest that there isn't a deeper agenda here.
Janet1
says...
10:52pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Liz10
says...
12:18am Fri 9 Apr 10
Janet1 wrote:I must say that techno & co seem to know a lot more about this then anybodyelse. How comes?
Jayish wrote: I think you should stay focused on the issue in the article Techno2 and refrain from dragging other candidates into this issue. It sounds like you have a personal axe to grind with Councillor Khan and Mr. Ahmed or you are waving the flag for one of the other Parties or even the deselected candidates. Ooh your comment reeks of venom.Your comment is strange, Jayish. I’ve reread Techno2’s comment twice and cannot see what you are complaining about. Techno is focusing on the issue. Your own sympathies seem to lie with the people who deselected sitting councillors, including the party leader, in the run-up to an election. To the rest of us, that looks like electoral suicide. I feel sorry for genuine Liberals who have given years of activism to this party – and I’m not even a LibDem supporter. I have no axe to grind for any of the parties. But a LibDem majority would have brought a much-needed change of power. I am disgusted that this ham-fisted politicking has damaged hopes of cleaning out this council.
Maybe the reason why some of the comments posted on this page have been removed is because techno and his pals are talking a load of rubbish & making things up as they go. I am told that there about 15 people on the committee to decide candidates so why single out 1 or 2 people?
Liz10
says...
12:27am Fri 9 Apr 10
Janet1 wrote:How do you know who deselected sitting councillors? just by reading tehcno's comments? I think that is rather naive of you. Do we even know the process? Do we even know the background? Do we even care? So why do people like you and techno always make out like you know everything or the truth...........
Jayish wrote: I think you should stay focused on the issue in the article Techno2 and refrain from dragging other candidates into this issue. It sounds like you have a personal axe to grind with Councillor Khan and Mr. Ahmed or you are waving the flag for one of the other Parties or even the deselected candidates. Ooh your comment reeks of venom.Your comment is strange, Jayish. I’ve reread Techno2’s comment twice and cannot see what you are complaining about. Techno is focusing on the issue. Your own sympathies seem to lie with the people who deselected sitting councillors, including the party leader, in the run-up to an election. To the rest of us, that looks like electoral suicide. I feel sorry for genuine Liberals who have given years of activism to this party – and I’m not even a LibDem supporter. I have no axe to grind for any of the parties. But a LibDem majority would have brought a much-needed change of power. I am disgusted that this ham-fisted politicking has damaged hopes of cleaning out this council.
Techno2
says...
9:22am Fri 9 Apr 10
Liz10 wrote:Very good point. I had to speak to several people over a fair period of time to realize what was going on and I have had doubts about it myself from time to time because you don't really like to believe it even when you see it and get told things by people who are angry and distressed. Everyone has an angle.
Janet1 wrote:How do you know who deselected sitting councillors? just by reading tehcno's comments? I think that is rather naive of you. Do we even know the process? Do we even know the background? Do we even care? So why do people like you and techno always make out like you know everything or the truth...........Jayish wrote: I think you should stay focused on the issue in the article Techno2 and refrain from dragging other candidates into this issue. It sounds like you have a personal axe to grind with Councillor Khan and Mr. Ahmed or you are waving the flag for one of the other Parties or even the deselected candidates. Ooh your comment reeks of venom.Your comment is strange, Jayish. I’ve reread Techno2’s comment twice and cannot see what you are complaining about. Techno is focusing on the issue. Your own sympathies seem to lie with the people who deselected sitting councillors, including the party leader, in the run-up to an election. To the rest of us, that looks like electoral suicide. I feel sorry for genuine Liberals who have given years of activism to this party – and I’m not even a LibDem supporter. I have no axe to grind for any of the parties. But a LibDem majority would have brought a much-needed change of power. I am disgusted that this ham-fisted politicking has damaged hopes of cleaning out this council.
It would be preferable for the people involved, including those who have been deselected, to be able to make statements about how they see things.
A word of warning though - I do not expect the people who engineeered this to be entirely frank about their involvement, motivations, rationalisations and self-delusions - or the history of this plotting, which by its very nature was done behind their collegues backs.
Helen, Walthamstow
says...
9:41am Fri 9 Apr 10
I referred in a previous posting to knowing about previous incidents in other parties. The process appears to be that key meetings (like the AGM in this case and candidate selection sessions in others) are packed by people who have presumably paid their dues but have never been seen or heard of by active party members beforehand, and who are never seen afterwards. These people have been primed to vote in certain ways, thus distorting the process at a key stage.
Is this what happened in this case? Was the selection committee chosen in this way?
Janet1
says...
10:06am Fri 9 Apr 10
“The Guardian understands the party’s decision to ditch the three followed a bitter row over an attempt by members sitting on the Walthamstow executive to de-select Cllr Carey, who represents Chapel End ward with Cllrs Macklin and Belam. … The Walthamstow Executive is made up of members and activists including Cllr Johar Khan, Cllr Bob Wheatley and Walthamstow parliamentary candidate Farid Ahmed.”
It’s interesting that the people hurling insults are supporters of the executive. They may have some information but aren’t sharing it and don’t want it discussed.
Sadly, this probably reveals all we need to know about what’s going on in the local LibDem party.
sonofturpin
says...
10:15am Fri 9 Apr 10
In the final analysis, it seems every last one of the party political based bidders for a council seat have their own hidden agenda that suggests that serving the immediate community in which they live is fairly low on their list of priorities.
My guess is that all of the major parties will be sweating a bit this weekend as they await the announcement of the candidates. I, for one, hope that we see a robust list of Independent names coming forward and that every one of them take enough votes to leave some bloody noses come voting day and help begin the process of change this Borough both needs and deserves.
Janet1
says...
10:20am Fri 9 Apr 10
I too would like to know who else is on the LibDem executive.
wfmywordmybond
says...
11:48am Fri 9 Apr 10
Janet1 wrote:Janet - below is the link to the Walthamstow Lib Dem contact page.
Helen, I have heard of what you describe, from a long-time Labour Party activist who was distressed at witnessing this. I didn’t know it was also happening in the LibDem party.
I too would like to know who else is on the LibDem executive.
http://walthamstowli
bdems.org.uk/contact
/
Interestingly, it only names the chair as the local party contact.
My sources tell me that the chair is now Cllr Johar Khan and Vice-chair is Cllr Bob Wheatley.
It seems Mr Lake stood down from the chair as he could not bear the pressure of the in fighting?
Even more interestingly a friend of mine has told me Mr Lake is one of the 'official' Lib Dem candidates for the ward where Cllrs Belam, Carey & Macklin were deselected from!!!
I can feel another episode of the House of Cards is in the offing.
wfmywordmybond
says...
11:49am Fri 9 Apr 10
http://walthamstowli
bdems.org.uk/contact
/
Interestingly, it only names the chair as the local party contact.
My sources tell me that the chair is now Cllr Johar Khan and Vice-chair is Cllr Bob Wheatley.
It seems Mr Lake stood down from the chair as he could not bear the pressure of the in fighting?
Even more interestingly a friend of mine has told me Mr Lake is one of the 'official' Lib Dem candidates for the ward where Cllrs Belam, Carey & Macklin were deselected from!!!
I can feel another episode of the House of Cards is in the offing.
Dave Hall
says...
11:52am Fri 9 Apr 10
The Labour Party used to do these things differently. I remember the GLC elections in May 1981. Labour won, and then the day after the poll they threw out the leader (Andrew McIntosh - I didn't remember him, I had to look him up) and elected Ken Livingstone as leader.
You're supposed to win the election first before throwing out the leader.
Vote for an Independent, Vote Green - go out and vote, but don't reward this inept crew.
Janet1
says...
12:25pm Fri 9 Apr 10
I just hope every independent who stands is elected. With the LibDems in meltdown, that's this borough's only hope.
Tom Thumb
says...
6:16pm Fri 9 Apr 10
Dave Hall wrote:Dave Hall hits the spot. Vote for an Independent, Vote Green - go out and vote, but don't reward this inept crew. If you vote for any of the three main parties you are just maintaining the status quo. There is very little difference between them.
This shambolic behaviour just before an election will just ensure that the Lib Dems do not take the leader's role in the new council. Presumably just to satisfy a factional interest. The Labour Party used to do these things differently. I remember the GLC elections in May 1981. Labour won, and then the day after the poll they threw out the leader (Andrew McIntosh - I didn't remember him, I had to look him up) and elected Ken Livingstone as leader. You're supposed to win the election first before throwing out the leader. Vote for an Independent, Vote Green - go out and vote, but don't reward this inept crew.
everoptimistic
says...
11:19pm Fri 9 Apr 10
Walthamstonian
says...
12:21am Sat 10 Apr 10
E17006
says...
5:46pm Sat 10 Apr 10
http://archipelago-o
f-truth.blog.co.uk/2
010/04/07/local-coup
-in-lib-dems-8326202
/
E17006
says...
5:47pm Sat 10 Apr 10
http://bit.ly/9bFK3I
Redfox
says...
11:28pm Sat 10 Apr 10
Those of us in the ward both know and trust their integrity of many, many years faithful service, and can fully understand how they had no desire to be tainted by the disgraceful behaviour of Lib-Dem heirachy in wanting to put forward a 'toady' blue-eyed candidate into a "safe seat".
If anyone in the ward wishes to put up a poster for their campaign, you will already know how to contact them. If not of course, Bob Belam is in the phone book.
This is totally NOT the case with being able to trace the residential whereabouts (in the 'ward'?) of the new team members the LD's want people to vote for in Chapel End.
wfmywordmybond
says...
9:16pm Sun 11 Apr 10
Today I spoke with a number of very irritate High Street residents who turned up at his surgery, at Coppermill Primary school, this weekend to speak with him about some personal issues and his involvement in the coup he seems to have presided over in the local Lib Dem party.
As usual he did not turn up. I also hear he did not turn up for his surgeries in December or February.
In regards this weekend he was presumably either campaigning in Enfield in an attempt of becoming an MP or was too scared to face his electorate to explain his actions in his attempt to become the leader of Waltham Forest Lib Dems.
Either way it seems he is not fit for public office.
lillybet1
says...
9:45am Mon 12 Apr 10
Well said as I myself pointed out how can he commit to residents in Waltham Forest when he cant be bothered to help. All people need to know is that without James O'Rourke who has had nothing to do with fiasco can,does and will get things done. He bothers to turn up to surgeries because he is committed to helping people in the borough/ward he was born in, so please as a decent human being vote for James O'Rourke not necessarily Lib Dems because it clearly is not a team effort. Congratulations by the way for becoming a Grandad at the weekend. Best wishes to your family.
lillybet1
says...
10:01am Mon 12 Apr 10
James O'Rourke grew up in the High Street Ward since 1967. This makes him committed to the residents of HIS ward and has proved it over the last 4 years. The saying is "you can please some of the people some of the time but you cant please all the people all of the time". I repeat he has worked very hard and will continue to do so.
Essex Man
says...
10:34am Tue 13 Apr 10
fabster
says...
11:42am Tue 13 Apr 10
Techno2
says...
12:15pm Tue 13 Apr 10
lillybet1 wrote:When you say 'since', without clarifiying that he does not in fact live there now, I do hope you are not meaning to give us a false impression that he actually still lives there. If that is that an inadvertant ommission, would you like to correct the fale impression and let us know in what year he last actually lived in the ward he represents?
Apologies correction to last comment from myself, unlike some I get facts wrong and say sorry..... James O'Rourke grew up in the High Street Ward since 1967. This makes him committed to the residents of HIS ward and has proved it over the last 4 years. The saying is "you can please some of the people some of the time but you cant please all the people all of the time". I repeat he has worked very hard and will continue to do so.
forlorn
says...
12:38pm Tue 13 Apr 10
E17006
says...
4:50am Wed 14 Apr 10
There is no evidence whatsoever that Ahmed, Kahn and Ali are extremists!
What there is a lot of evidence for though, is that they are really Tories! Each of them is a successful businessman, with lots of money to throw around, and each seems keen on "jobs-for-the-boys".
I would bet that if the Tories weren't so locally unelectable that these guys and their shiny cars would be signing up with Cameron in a shot.
forlorn
says...
3:55pm Thu 22 Apr 10
http://www.muslim.li
bdems.org/about.shtm
l
Walthamster
says...
8:50pm Thu 22 Apr 10
I notice that the press officer, Nasser Butt, is the man who stood unsuccessfully in 2007 against Farooq Qureshi to be Lib Dem PPC in Leyton.
http://www.guardian-
series.co.uk/news/14
51885.print/
“RULES to prevent postal vote fraud were broken during the election for the Liberal Democrats' prospective Parliamentary candidate for Leyton and Wanstead, the returning officer (RO) has found.”
Mr Butt “launched a formal complaint, which included allegations of misconduct during the campaign.”
The RO “found a number of the identical envelopes containing applications for postal votes had similar handwriting on them, which did not appear to belong to the people who filled out the forms inside. … and that all of the 16 suspicious postal votes registered a first preference for Cllr Qureshi. “
Later “Mr Butt expressed concern that the RO was powerless to investigate his complaints in full and described the selection process as "tainted".
Morris Hickey says...
12:50pm Wed 7 Apr 10