A Labour councillor has been suspended as police carry out an investigation in allegations made against him, Plymouth Live can reveal. Kevin Neil, who represents Stoke ward, is understood to have been suspended from the party as the inquiry is carried out. It is understood that Mr Neil has not been arrested and the investigation into the allegations are at a very early stage. Plymouth’s Labour party referred Plymouth Live to Labour HQ in London which confirmed Mr Neil has been suspended from the party but could not offer any further details, noting it was currently a police matter. Devon and Cornwall Police said they were unable to comment. Plymouth Live understands that while Mr Neil is suspended from the Labour Party he can still sit as as councillor and represent his ward and constituents. Last year Mr Neil stood for the St Austell and Newquay Parliamentary seat, coming second to Conservative Steve Double who was re-elected. He secured the biggest increase in the Labour vote … [Read more...] about Labour councillor suspended and police investigation launched
Labour
Explained: Corbyn’s bid to tighten his grip on Labour
The “democracy review” carried out by Katy Clark, Jeremy Corbyn’s former political secretary, is expected to propose three changes to Labour Party rules: • Labour leaders on local councils to be elected by local party members rather than councillors • Candidates for party leader to need nominations from 5 per cent of Labour MPs rather than 10 per cent • The representative of Labour MEPs on the party’s National Executive to be abolished, before Brexit in March The proposals are expected to be approved by Labour’s National Executive next month, and to be passed by the party’s annual conference in September. It was denied yesterday that the plans include a fourth proposal, to abolish the right of an incumbent MP to be shortlisted for a redrawn seat after boundary changes. The plans are the next camp on the long march of Corbyn’s supporters through the institutions of the Labour Party. Labour local government remains almost … [Read more...] about Explained: Corbyn’s bid to tighten his grip on Labour
Labour row erupts over leaked plans to give left-wing members major new powers
A Labour row erupted today over leaked plans to give the left-wing membership sweeping new powers. Furious officials hit out at proposals to let Labour members choose council chiefs directly - instead of councillors choosing their leader, as happens now. Critics fear that could lead to the ousting of 'centrist' council chiefs or group leaders with views hostile to Jeremy Corbyn. Labour's 'democracy review' also reportedly includes plans to let candidates stand for leader with just 5% of MPs' support. Currently it is 10%. Union chiefs were briefed by Labour chairman Ian Lavery on the ideas on Monday - despite the review only closing for submissions this Friday. A senior Labour MP told the Mirror: "Local government family are kicking off." Nick Forbes, the leader of Newcastle City Council and Labour's local government chief, blasted: "I will fight this ridiculous proposal tooth and nail." He added: "Abolishing the rights of democratically elected Labour councillors to elect and hold a … [Read more...] about Labour row erupts over leaked plans to give left-wing members major new powers
‘Labour is fast becoming the new party of business – and Brexiteers have done all the hard work for them’
Whenever a group of business people chew the fat, the chances are they will turn to the “what’s worse?” question – a Corbyn government or Brexit? Until recently, many feared the most left-wing government in British history more than Brexit. But now some are having second thoughts: the UK will leave the EU in nine months and yet, remarkably, there is still no government blueprint about its future relationship with the bloc. “Some people are starting to say the lack of leadership is so woeful that Labour couldn’t be any worse,” one business figure told me. Companies are already voting with their feet, and moving investment out of the UK. In the motor industry, investment in the first six months of this year has almost halved since the same period last year. There might well be a last-minute deal on a customs union with the EU, but business needs certainty and to plan ahead. Its duties to shareholders and customers may mean preparing for the … [Read more...] about ‘Labour is fast becoming the new party of business – and Brexiteers have done all the hard work for them’
Before Winter, Labour Will Be Giving Brexit Back To The People
Sometimes the unthinkable becomes reality. Step forward, market fundamentalist Chris Grayling. The transport secretart becomes only the second living person to nationalise a rail service in Britain - his Labour nemesis, Lord Andrew Adonis, is the other. Let’s be clear, crystal clear, Grayling would have walked barefoot on broken glass before vindicating one of Jeremy Corbyn’s top policies, if it hadn’t been the only means of ensuring the trains on UK’s East Coast Mainline kept running. Making his announcement last month, Grayling struggled to use the “n” word the Tories hate most - nationalisation. Instead, he mumbled on about services being taken over by the ‘operator of last resort’. Nevertheless, it is the Department for Transport (DfT) which is now in control of the new London North Eastern Railway (LNER) services. Virgin’s Richard Branson and Stagecoach’s Brian Souter have been booted out. And the British public are now … [Read more...] about Before Winter, Labour Will Be Giving Brexit Back To The People