Islington Tribune - News: Three minutes that decided crucial vote

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 1 June 2007

The committee room clock

Three minutes that decided crucial vote

Spat over claim that committee room clock was fast

A COMMITTEE room clock is at the centre of a row over the timing of a vote which allowed the Town Hall’s ruling Lib Dems to maintain control of an influential planning committee.
The Labour opposition – and the borough’s lone Green councillor, Katie Dawson – are calling on the council’s chief executive Helen Bailey to look into claims that the clock was three minutes fast when an important election was held.
Cllr Dawson and five Labour opposition councillors say they arrived at the East Area committee meeting at the Resource Centre in Holloway Road at 7.30pm, only to discover that Lib Dem councillor Rhodri Jamieson had been elected as the committee’s new chairman, without opposition.
Cllr Dawson said: “I looked at the clock in the committee room and thought it looked wrong. I believe the clock was three minutes fast and the vote had been rushed through at 7.27pm.”
Labour councillor Phil Kelly, who arrived with four colleagues, said they had checked their watches at 7.29pm before making their way into the meeting. “I was appalled,” he added. “We dialled the Speaking Clock and discovered the clock on the committee room wall was three minutes fast.”
But Lib Dem deputy council leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “All six Lib Dem councillors were there at the start of the meeting. We asked the legal officer if we could start, as it was 7.30pm on the clock in the room. It’s the clock in the room you go by and he said yes.”
He added: “I don’t know if the clock was fast – all I can say is that the council’s legal officer said it was okay for the meeting to go ahead.”
Even if the vote had been tied 6-6, the committee’s Lib Dem chairman would have had the casting vote.
Cllr Dawson also accused the Lib Dems of putting undue pressure on her to support their candidate with late-night calls and text messages two nights before the election. It happened after leading Lib Dem councillor Laura Willoughby took compassionate leave to fly to Lyon in France to be with her sick godmother. She thought she would be unable to attend the committee meeting.
Facing the possibility of being one councillor down, the Lib Dems realised Cllr Dawson could have the deciding vote. She received three phone calls on the Sunday night before the meeting, from the same senior Lib Dem councillor. “I told the Lib Dem councillor I had utter sympathy for Laura, but in no way could they guarantee my vote until I had made up my mind at the meeting,” she said. “But he kept on pleading it would be inhumane to drag Laura back, trying to make me feel guilty. It was emotional blackmail.”
A senior Lib Dem spokesman said there was nothing wrong in seeking support from the opposition. He added: “As it turned out, we didn’t need it because Laura managed to fly back in time for the vote.”

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