The bitter divisions at the heart of Kirklees Council were laid bare as Cathy Scott was removed as council leader.

Labour narrowly won a vote of ‘no confidence’ to force Clr Scott out as the other two other main parties – the Tories and the Liberal Democrats – abstained.

Then when Labour proposed group leader Clr Carole Pattison as council leader, the Tories and the Lib Dems abstained again and Clr Pattison was elected by 23 votes to 18 with 23 abstentions.

Proposing the vote of no confidence, Clr Pattison said Clr Scott’s leadership was a “travesty of democracy” and was untenable in the short, medium and long term.

“People’s faith and belief in the council is being eroded and damage is being done to our services,” she said.

Clr Scott had attempted to cling onto power after being removed as Labour leader in the wake of disastrous local election results which saw the party lose their overall majority.

Clr Scott quit the Labour Party and formed a new group, Community Alliance, with five other former Labour councillors.

She had tried to bring other parties on board in an all-party coalition but there were no takers.

 

 

Clr Scott (above) was elected council leader on a four-year term last year and vowed to continue. Speaking at the full council meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall Clr Scott said she and her Cabinet had been subject to threats and “malicious behaviour” that undermines the “integrity of the democratic process.”

Clr Habiban Zaman, deputy leader under Clr Scott and one of the Labour councillors who quit over the national party’s stance on Gaza, said what Community Alliance proposed was a new, modern and inclusive way of running the council.

“We are new movement ready to embrace change including all ages, faiths and backgrounds. This gives us a new direction and a new future,” she said.

“We need more people to be true voices of the community and not just puppets who dance to the tune of genocide-supporting parties.

“It’s also a warning of what this new government is about – nothing but war, war, war – endorsing war crimes. Starmer has betrayed loyalties.”

The Greens and Kirklees Community Independents teamed up to propose a new way of running the council.

Instead of the so-called ‘Strong Leader’ model where a leader is elected and then chooses their own Cabinet, the two groups wanted to return to the committee system where all parties have a say in council decisions.

This was dismissed as “outdated” by Clr Pattison who said it was like running the council on a typewriter rather than a computer.

 

 

Clr Cooper (above) said far from being antiquated, it was thoroughly modern and other big councils had made the switch.

He described the Cabinet system as “anti-democratic” as a party like Labour with only 24 of the 69 seats and a 30% share of the vote could run the council.

The Lib Dems also expressed support for the committee system but Labour and the Tories oppose it. Clr Cooper hinted that a campaign could be launched to force a change. A governance review can be called if 5% of the electorate ask for it.

Clr Jo Lawson, a former Labour councillor who is now leader of Kirklees Community Independents, said 11 Kirklees Labour councillors had quit this year with rumours of a “few more going” by September.

The Labour group had also had three different leaders in the space of a year and lost six seats at the local elections.

She added: “The electorate in parts of North Kirklees have declared Labour as not a party they trust to represent them.

“The lesson is never take anyone’s vote for granted. Labour has done that and now the chickens are coming home to roost.”

After she was elected, Clr Pattison (Greenhead) immediately announced her new Cabinet.

Moses Crook (Holme Valley South) is deputy leader with Graham Turner (Golcar) returning to finance and regeneration and Viv Kendrick (Heckmondwike) back to children’s services.

Beverley Addy (Colne Valley) will take health and adult services while Munir Ahmed (Dalton), Amanda Pinnock (Ashbrow) and Tyler Hawkins (Dalton) will have portfolios confirmed later.

Main image (top): New council leader Clr Pattison and deputy leader Clr Crook.

 

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