MP’s supporters quit Labour Party

Sep 27 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

MP’s supporters quit Labour Party

FIVE members of the Croxteth Labour Group have resigned claiming party rules were broken to oust veteran Liverpool MP Bob Wareing.

The five, three of whom are former Labour councillors, said they could no longer fulfil their roles following the selection of former minister Stephen Twigg for the West Derby constituency.

The ward officers, including the chair, vice chair and group secretary, made the mass resignation at a Group meeting on Tuesday night, immediately before Croxteth councillor Rose Bailey was adopted to seek re-election.

Last night, former vice chair of the Croxteth Labour Group Ken Stewart – a Labour Party member of 40 years – launched a scathing attack on the party saying: “God help Liverpool if this Labour Group ever get into power.” He said Bill Craig, Alan Fearnehough, James Metheun, Michaela Stewart and himself would support Mr Wareing when he stands as an Independent at the next general election.

Mr Stewart said: “We felt we had no option but to resign, particularly after a number of incidents involving Cllr Rose Bailey.

“In June, she refused to attend an important police meeting organised by Cllr Nadia Stewart as Lib-Dem councillor Phil Moffatt was attending when she knows all councillors have a duty to work together to benefit the community.”

Liverpool’s Labour Party leader Joe Anderson said the resignations were not significant and said while the five had defected to Mr Wareing’s independent Labour Party, 15 others had joined the Labour Group in the last two weeks.

He said: “The fact of the matter is that we have known for some time these people were planning to resign.

“People are welcome to have different views within the party, but they must all respect the democratic process of election. Bob Wareing was resoundingly beaten in a properly managed and scrutinised contest.”

Cllr Bailey added: “I did not boycott the meeting that Cllr Stewart arranged. I had another appointment to keep and gave my apologies.

“These members must accept that Bob lost because people in the area were disillusioned and disappointed that he had not capitalised on the opportunities of having a Labour government in power to regenerate the area and boost employment.”

carolineinnes@dailypost.co.uk