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Bowing out: Lucy Anderson |
Shock resignation leaves Labour with polls battle
Behind-the-scenes disquiet as rivals relish by-election contest
LABOUR policiticans in Camden are putting a brave face on the surprise resignation of the party’s deputy leader.
Officially, colleagues were this week paying tribute to Councillor Lucy Anderson’s achievements and wishing her well in her new job advising London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
But, behind-the-scenes, fellow Labour councillors are annoyed at the timing and manner of her exit – some only found out by reading last week’s New Journal exclusive.
It is just six months since Labour lost overall control of the council.
The by-election created by Cllr Anderson’s exit could not have come at a worst time for Labour or in a more vulnerable area.
The Kentish Town ward was once a Labour stronghold but Cllr Anderson clung onto her seat by just 15 votes while her fellow Labour candidates were wiped out by a Lib Dem surge.
Labour leader Councillor Anna Stewart said: “It is a real shame Lucy has decided to step down. We all know that life events do not come along in neat four-year bundles, and our loss is the Mayor’s gain. Lucy has been a champion for Kentish Town.”
She added: “Labour will be campaigning hard to ensure that Lucy’s strong record of representing residents throughout the ward is continued.”
But privately one party source said: “It feels like she is looking after herself rather than the party. It’s pretty selfish. She didn’t seem to fancy the task of being in opposition. Would she have done this if we had won the elections?”
Cllr Anderson’s new post as business manager in the public affairs and transport directorate at the Greater London Authority is a politically restricted position and she cannot legally continue to represent Kentish Town for Labour.
She said the move was an opportunity she could not pass up. Cllr Anderson added: “This has nothing to do with losing the election. I was deputy leader of the Labour group, I was happy doing that. I am very sad to leave the council.
“I really did get the lawyers to see if there was any chance I could stay but if you are directly advising the Mayor then you can’t be a councillor as well.”
She believes Labour will stand a good chance of holding the seat.
Cllr Anderson, a former Camden education chief, said: “I will still be around but I just can’t be the legally elected representative for Kentish Town. I think people still want a Labour voice in Kentish Town. We have been working to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.”
Rival parties are now gearing up for a by-election tussle.
The Green Party will almost certainly field Sian Berry. Now the party’s national principal speaker – the Greens do not have leaders – Ms Berry polled just 157 votes fewer than Cllr Anderson in Kentish Town at May’s elections.
She said: “I think we can do well. It will be a different election this time because it will not be about the overall control of the council. Who needs another Labour or Lib Dem councillor? It won’t change things. We have lots of support in Kentish Town.”
Although in partnership at the Town Hall, the Lib Dems and Conservatives have no electoral pact covering by-elections.
Councillor Paul Barton, chairman of St Pancras and Holborn Conservatives, said: “In recent years Kentish Town ward has not been a target ward for the Conservatives, but the success seen this year in nearby Gospel Oak and Highgate show there are no no-go areas for Conservatives.”
The Lib Dems will use the campaign to play up their decision to save the entire Prince of Wales Baths in Kentish Town – an issue that became an election breaker. They have picked Ralph Scott, who just missed out in May, to fight the by-election.
Mr Scott said: “I am honoured and humbled to be asked to stand again and will be working closely with residents.”
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