BENNETT AVOIDS DE-SELECTION AS GIPSY HILL LABOUR CANDIDATE
Lambeth’s cabinet member for housing Cllr Matthew Bennett appears to have held on to his nomination as a Labour candidate for Gipsy Hill in next year’s council elections by just 12 votes.
News From Crystal Palace understands that among those at the selection meeting were 16 people who were not regular attendees.
When it came to deciding who would be selected a woman from among the 16 stood up, made a point of order, and said the rule book stated that the three existing councilors could be voted in ‘en bloc’.
All 16 voted for the three existing ward councilors to be re-selected – and then left immediately after the vote had been taken.
The Brixton Buzz website reports that Bennett polled the lowest of the successful candidates. 28 members endorsed him, compared to 34 for Brathwaite, and 30 for Murphy.
News From Crystal Palace understands that 16 people voted against each of the three candidates – meaning both Bennett and Murphy would have been de-selected. (A blog by Guardian writer Dave Hill gives slightly different figures: Bennett 28-16, Braithwaite 34-14 and Murphy 30-17 )
News From Crystal Palace also understands that a similar move was made at the Herne Hill ward selection meeting. A second selection meeting is being arranged in that ward, where Cllr Jim Dickson is one of the three Labour councillors seeking re-selection.
In the wake of the meeting LambethLabour retweeted a ‘tweet’ from Cllr Bennett dated March 6th:
“Delighted to say all three councillors reselected in Gipsy Hill! Great to have the strong backing of local members.”
The Brixton Buzz website reports that Bennett polled the lowest of the successful candidates. 28 members endorsed him, compared to 34 for Brathwaite, and 30 for Murphy.
Further reading: Cllr Matthew Bennett selected to stand for Labour in Gipsy Hill ward for 2018 Lambeth Council elections by Jason Cobb Brixton Buzz website – March 7, 2017