Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect

Andrea Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 11:08:41 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

5 Labour councillors in Ealing Southall defected to the Conservative Party today.



The 5 councillors are Gurcharan Singh (Lady Margaret), Manjit Singh (Southall Broadway), Maninder Kaur Keith (Lady Margaret), Jarnail Singh Jandu (Lady Margaret) and Jagdish Gupta (Southall Broadway).

Gurcharan Singh was one of the candidates who tried to get Labour nomination for the byelection. Now after failing to be shortlised, he "discovers" that he actually likes Tony Lit (even if last week he was trying to get the nomination to face him).

Now what can the Labour campaign do to limit the damages caused by this defections to the Tories?
Naturally Singh's defection shows that he wasn't suitable for the shortlist (he went Tory not even Indy). However could the selection process have been better handled by the NEC to minimize potential future problems?


Labour Ealing Council group leader Sonika Nirwall has meanwhile commented on the defections:


I am, of course, disappointed that Gurcharan Singh has betrayed the voters who elected him as a Labour councillor. Gurcharan Singh has always made clear that his driving ambition was to become an MP. And he did everything he could within the Labour party to achieve that ambition. But I am still shocked that he is willing to go to any lengths to become an MP.  I know that what the community in Southall wants in their next MP is something with a unifying force. What Gurcharan Singh has done today is hugely divisive and the Tories will not gain any votes from it

Update [2007-7-10 6:44:34 by Andrea]:. A 6th councillor has defected today. Zahida Abbas Noori from Southall Broadway ward
Update [2007-7-10 10:50:44 by Andrea]:2 Tom Watson reports that Councillor Noori has not defected as reported by Tory blogger Iain Dale


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Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect | 20 comments (20 topical)

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#1)

by swatantra on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 11:24:22 AM GMT

Just as I suspected; the Singh's are acting like prima donnas. The white community must be laughing up their sleeves. Yet gain the Asian community has split along communal lines, and shown itself not fit to run a whelk stall. And its not the first time we've had this kind of behaviour from the Sikhs. Somebody tell me, why do we bother plugging away at community cohesion? Its the politics of the sub-continent on the streets of Southall.

We don't want it here, thankyou.


Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#2)

by WillParbury on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 06:39:44 PM GMT

I think it is important to focus on the complete non track record of Tony Lit rather than this bunch of renegade councillors who will never stand for parliament let alone get elected to it which ever party they are in.

If they thought they would actually get elected they would have gone independent. So after years of being Labour they go off in a huff and through their toys out of the pram.

http://parburypolitica.blogspot.com/2007/07/tony-lit-tory-dream-turns-to-nightmare.html


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#8)

by John51 on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 03:05:47 PM GMT

Anybody who knows Gurcharan Singh, will know that his driving ambition was to get into parliament and represent Southall. Many politicians have ambition, and many have to endure frustrations when "The Party" looks at the big picture, and puts its interests first.

I find it hard to believe that Gurcharan could find a particular set of circumstances that would see him succeeding Piara Khabra.

With that said, can anybody explain to me why he didnot seek selection in the neighbouring seat of Ealing Central.

Same borough, open shortlist, winnable seat, winnable selection?


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#18)

by Westlondoner on Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 09:17:49 AM GMT

The rumour in local Tory circles is that Cameron has promised Gurcharan Singh the Tory nomination in Ealing Central and Acton, with the invisible current Tory candidate being sent to the Lords.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#3)

by CockneyLad on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 11:16:03 AM GMT

To be honest this whole saga in Ealing Southall has been brewing for months. I won't mention certain people, but I do feel there have been figures within the Labour party in Ealing Southall who refuse to accept change and step aside gracefully. Ever since Khabra announced he was going to step down, theres been a rush of people vying for the seat and the old factions have re-opened.


I personally wanted a step away from the old set and was hoping Sonika Nirwal would win selection, but sadly the powers that be saw things differently and its much of the same. Sharma if he wins, will be the oldest person to be elected in a by-election and I suspect that he will soon step down. Nirwal would have provided a break from the old along with being someone who could hold this seat for years to come. We wasted the opportunity to vote for the first Asian female MP, who has risen through merit rather than positive discrimination.


The factionalism is a repeat of the old Bidwell/Khabra argument back in 1992 and isn't helping us fight a threat from a party who's candidate has only been a member of the Tories for a matter of days. We've held this seat since its creation and the egos of a few members within are destroying our chances of maintaining our place  in  the heritage of such a vibrant area of London.


It's the constituency that I have grown up in since I was born and despite the pathetic actions of the 5 Labour councillors and the selection of a candidate I would never have endorsed, I'll still be voting for Labour because the only way we can win is through soildarity and unity.


Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#7)

by swatantra on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 02:55:45 PM GMT

I quite agree, it needed a leap forward into the next generation, particularly where a safe seat is concerned.
The older generation of Asians should step aside gracefully; but they won't; you have to prise them out, with a jemmy and still they cling on.

The other problem is that there is still tremendous clan and caste and religious rivalry persisting in the Asian community in Southall; old habits die hard, and its the Labour Party that will suffer in the end.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#4)

by Andrea on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 11:45:37 AM GMT

A 6th councillor defected today....


Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#5)

by CockneyLad on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 12:08:06 PM GMT

Any idea who it is? I presume its another Southall councillor. The momentum is swinging heavily towards the Tories now.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#6)

by Andrea on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 12:27:33 PM GMT

Zahida Abbas Noori from Southall Broadway ward..so all Lab councillors in Southall Broadway and Lady Margaret have defected now.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#9)

by Andrea on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 03:51:27 PM GMT

Tom Watson reports that she has not defected as claimed by tory bloggers
http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#10)

by swatantra on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 05:21:22 PM GMT

Watson and Vaz have made a pigs ear of the whole selection. They should have seen it coming. If it had been an AWS from the start it would have put an end to the bitter rivilaries in the Southall Party. The odds of losing the seat have now increased.


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Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#11)

by lastword on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 06:14:29 PM GMT

Exactly.


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Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#12)

by CockneyLad on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 09:10:06 PM GMT

Couldn't agree more with you. Those with a knowledge of the area will know this has been brewing for months.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#14)

by fluffymike on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 04:41:40 PM GMT

Am I the only one who thinks some of the comments on this thread border on racist?


Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#15)

by CockneyLad on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 06:06:08 PM GMT

I understand your point, but if you look at Southall and in particular at the Labour Party there you always get the impression that the factions exist along religious grounds amongst the old guard.


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Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#16)

by Sensible Comrade on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:01:31 PM GMT

I also understand why you'd think that. Some people have made their points in, shall we say, insesitive ways. But if sectarianism, factionalism, and bullying is rife amongst a group of Labourites I don't think we should be afraid to discuss it just because they're Asian


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#17)

by CockneyLad on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:54:31 PM GMT

Regardless of race, its an issue that needs to be addressed because its really having a negative impact on us.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#19)

by swatantra on Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 09:40:51 AM GMT

About ten years ago  BICA, the Indian Councillors Association, of which i was a member, split along religious lines; the Sikhs felt they were being excluded; so they were allowed to take all the posts on the Exec Committee, to see if they could do any better. A few months later, BICA collapsed.
You don't solve a problem by shying away from it, but by telling it as it is. Lets take another example. aslamobhobia. We've got into an awful mess. But at last the Muslim Council has realised that it has to come out with stronger statements and forcefully condemn the actions of the few and totally distance themselves from the extremists in their midst. I look foward to the day when Muslim Moderates say enough is enough and actually go out on protest marches against these terrorists who are damaging the good name of the Muslim Community settled here and who just want a peaceful life. The point is a question of allegiance, who or what do you identify youirself with most? A question Brown is asking, and we ask on doorsteps. And for the next generation, with no other home, the answer has to be, Britain, and not the sub continent.


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Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#20)

by CockneyLad on Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 01:12:37 PM GMT

I think the older generation see their home as Britain and not the sub continent. Yes many of them have strong political links to the sub continent but I still feel their allegiances are held in the U.K. I think we need to just get on with supporting Sharma now and exposing the real truth behind the Conservative candidate. And I'm not the only one, quite a few people I know here think theres something not quite right about whats behind the candidate.


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Re: Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect (#21)

by jkitleft on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:18:51 PM GMT

There's been mention of religious lines, and I'd like to point out that Cameron is trying desperately to woo Sikhs to the Tories. Why? Because it looks 'modernising' to have a picture in a paper of a Tory PPC in a Turban. He complains of no Sikh MP's. We have 3 perfectly good LABOUR Sikh MP's. I've forgotten the other two, but I know Parmjit Dhanda is a Sikh.


Ealing Southall: 5 Labour Councillors defect | 20 comments (20 topical)