Clear dissatisfaction with extreme forms of party politics

Published: 7 July, 2011

• AT Camden’s full council meeting Councillor Nasim Ali set out Labour’s vision for the future, centred on three themes: leadership, democracy and community.

I had fully expected an opportunity to respond and had planned to speak in a spirit of constructive challenge, raising issues about: leadership and the environment; leadership and protection of jobs; and community and the improvement of apprenticeship schemes.

I’d also intended to ask for greater participation by residents in the future, considering the refusal of the deputation by Belsize parents at this meeting. This despite a short agenda and despite the importance of the deputation – asking Labour not to sell the buildings which residents hope to use as a free school. Whether one supports a free school or not this is clearly an important subject for debate.

It was ironic that following this commitment to democracy, the Labour mayor would not let the Greens speak, even though we won 11 per cent of the vote in the local elections. 

There have been other incidents. For example, under the last mayor, refusal of a residents’ deputation on sustainability at full council and, immediately Labour took back control, the move away from a system of mayors rotating between political parties.

The administration has also cut funding to area forums and Labour councillors have not shown a strong interest in those meetings where residents have a chance to participate in local decisions. Discussions about the budget earlier this year were almost entirely behind closed doors.

All of this calls into question Labour’s commitment to democracy and suggests an inclination to use the powers that it has within the system to its advantage, rather than in the interests of debate and participation. This is a worrying trend and not what voters want to see. 

There is clear public dissatisfaction with such extreme forms of competitive party politics and I suspect many Labour Party members share this dissatisfaction.

I will be approaching the leader and mayor and other party leaders to see how we can improve these systems in the interest of transparency, debate, and public participation. 

It is time we really have a fair and open system. I’d welcome correspondence from your readers with suggestions on how systems could be improved.

CLLR MAYA DE SOUZA
Green Party, Highgate ward