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Constituency party suspended 

The Newark Constituency Labour Party and the Newark and Sherwood District Labour Party were suspended by the party's National Executive on Tuesday. 

The NEC voted 19-4 in favour of the move.

Labour's regional director for the Midlands Mr Roy Kennedy was put in overall charge of the local party.

Mr Kennedy, East Midlands regional officer Mr Roy Lakey, regional spokesman Mr Phil Dilks and a legal representative were in town on Tuesday night to inform the Newark town branch of the Labour Party of the decision to suspend.

The branch was due to have met at The Vine on Barnbygate but could not do so after the suspension.

Mr Dilks told the Advertiser: "As of Tuesday lunchtime the NEC decided to suspend the Newark constituency and district Labour branches - they have now ceased to function.

"We would expect as we move towards a Parliamentary by-election that normal business would be suspended anyway as we prepare for campaign mode.

"This decision has been made with the by-election in mind. We do not intend to be without Parliamentary leadership for a moment longer than necessary.

"The suspensions have been taken in the interests of ensuring the most effective local election campaign and partly relate to the necessary selection of 54 candidates for that local election.

"We are determined to select and place before the people of Newark a full slate of 54 of the highest calibre, able and capable candidates, with the highest standards of probity for local government, and indeed all stages of government."

Among about 20 Labour members at the Vine were Mrs Gill Dawn, Mr Dave Barton, Mrs Joan Whicher, wife of Fiona Jones' election agent Des Whicher, Mr Vic Hall and Mrs Doreen Westmoreland. Also there were brother and sister Mr John and Miss Jean Moore.

Mr Barton said they had not been informed of the reason for the suspensions but had been told Mr Kennedy would be writing to them individually when he had been briefed by national officers.

Members were not informed whether it would be a short or long-term suspension.

Mr Hall, the former secretary of Newark Constituency Labour Party, said he welcomed the suspension and that a Labour team had taken over with a positive and united approach to moving forward.

 

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