Gary O’Donnell writes below to fellow Councillors on his feelings about the suspension of democracy in the Party, in response to the imposition by the NEC of a re-run process for the city of Leicester’s candidate selection in local elections this May, with a so-called ‘Campaigns Improvement Board’ suddenly taking the process out of the hands of the Local Government Committee.

Fellow Councillors, friends and comrades,

It is with great sadness that I feel I have to write this letter to you all. I have been a Councillor since the 2019 elections and must say I’ve really enjoyed the day-to-day challenges of being a local Councillor in a large and diverse ward with some of the most economically deprived parts of the city sitting next to a much more financially robust area of the city.

Like all of us Councillors, it can be very frustrating when you can’t affect the change you would like and it can be disappointing at times, but I have, in all honesty, given my very best to ensure the constituents in the ward receive the very best service from their Councillor. I also did this because I am proud to be a Labour Councillor and want the people of Western Ward to know that Labour is on their side and fighting for the best for them and the communities that they live in.

I have been tireless in building links into the various and diverse communities within the ward and been diligent in undertaking my casework, supporting some of those most vulnerable in my ward and trying to make people’s lives a little better. I think even fellow Councillors, who may not be on the same side of the broad church that our Party is, would recognise that I am a hard working conscientious Councillor.

This is why I am saddened that I will not be able to go further forward as a Councillor. In good conscience I cannot participate in the process that is being put forward by the National Executive Committee, the Campaign Improvement Board and Richard Oliver, the Regional Director of East Midlands Labour. My reasons are outlined below.

• The suspension of democracy within the Party so that members have no say in who will be Councillors. I feel only the members of the ward have the right to select or de-select me as the person they would want as a Councillor.
• The suspension of Labour Party rules on eligibility to stand as a Councillor by removing membership and geographic criteria. This will lead to people who have no real connection to the city or the Party deciding how this city runs, an incredibly short-sighted and dangerous strategy which will alienate support for us.
• The suspension of the right to appeal if you are not deemed capable to be a candidate, or you do not perform as the selection panel thinks you should. I, like all of you, have been interviewed by a panel that was in line with Labour Party rules and I was accepted by that panel. Now I am asked to be re interviewed by a group of people with no real relationship to the city.
• There are so many breaches of Labour Party rules and justice and democracy by the actions of the Campaign Improvement Board which will cost us dear in the forthcoming elections and give our political enemies so much ammunition.

I will be boycotting the NEC/CIB process because only by making a stand can we at all seek to change and overturn this terrible process. I would say to other Councillors who feel the same to join me. I do understand this is difficult and do not criticise anyone who does not feel that they can do this. As Councillors we have many drivers motivating what we do and I would never take issue with that but only in solidarity in the traditions of the labour movement can we push back against this undemocratic and unfair process.

Like I have said, I love being a Labour Councillor and feel that I have met some great people but sometimes we have to say Enough is Enough and for me this is that time.

Yours in Love and Solidarity,

Councillor Gary O’Donnell, Western Ward.

Councillor Gary O’Donnell is a Leicester City Councillor

Image: Leicester Town Hall. Source: Flickr. Author: zaphad1,  licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.