Islington Council budget row: Lib Dem finance rebel Andrew Cornwell, stands down

Published: 5 March 2010
by ROISIN GADELRAB

ANDREW Cornwell – the man blamed for causing his party to lose control of its budget last year – is stepping down as a councillor.

Despite having been approached by “no less than three parties”, the former Lib Dem finance chief will not stand for re-election.

Cllr Cornwell (pictured) resigned as executive member for finance in October 2008. Four months later, when the council’s budget was being debated, he helped swing the knife-edge vote towards Labour, after winning a package of concessions.

Cllr Cornwell said: “I only ever intended to be a councillor for four years. I decided that right at the beginning because I’m not a professional politician and I never intended to make a career out of politics.”

Instead, he intends to return to journalism, although he won’t yet reveal exactly what his plans are.

He said he stood in St George’s ward because he was “inspired to put something into Islington”, but admits: “I didn’t really expect to win the election. It was a very tight ward.”

In January 2008, he told the then Lib Dem leader Councillor James Kempton he would not stand again. As the months went by it became clear he could not work alongside his leader.

After his resignation from the executive, he remained on the ruling party’s benches but apart from his colleagues.

He said: “It was a unique situation. I’ve taken advantage of that and pushed forward certain policies but I’ve only been motivated by my love for the place and wanting to improve the borough.”

Cllr Cornwell believes the impending local election is too close to call. “Two years ago the Lib Dems were in a lot of trouble and when I resigned from the executive I made it clear that unless things changed, they would be wiped out,” he said. “Since Terry Stacy took over things have changed. They’re a lot more active, aggressive in campaigning and have a fighting chance.”

He maintains the differences between the parties have been exaggerated. “Most of the councillors in the chamber are left of centre in some way,” he said. “They’ve got a belief in equality, fairness and think the environment is important in some way. Whoever wins the election is going to have narrow options because of the national economic picture.

“I would not want to be in charge of Islington’s finances in a year’s time. They’re going to have an incredibly tough job.”