WARRINGTON’S rebel Labour councillor Kevin Bennett has been suspended from the party for six months for “voting against the whip”.
The Fairfield and Howley councillor (pictured) was handed his “sentence” by an appeal panel convened by the national Labour Party.
Earlier this year he voted against the council budget put forward by the borough council’s executive board.
He was subsequently suspended from the Labour group on the council for an indefinite period.
Since then he has issued a number of further controversial statements, including a call for councillors to take a pay cut.
After his local suspension he claimed to have been a victim of bullying, harassment and “distasteful accusations.”
He also claimed his fellow ward councillors had made it clear they had no desire to work with him and that he had been “targeted” by the chief whip.
A spokesperson for the Warrington Labour Group said: “Labour councillors are perfectly entitled to have differing opinions which they can put forward as part of any political debate. But once the Labour councillors as a group have made a collective decision, all Labour councillors are expected to respect that.
“The Coalition Government has slashed Warrington Council’s funding by a massive £50 million which poses us many challenges but the Labour administration has both a legal and a moral obligation to the people of Warrington to set a balanced budget.
“Cllr Bennett has now apologised and he has acknowledged he was wrong to vote against the budget.
“He has also committed, from now on, to respect any collective decisions made by the Labour Group and so, after his suspension is served, he will of course be welcomed back by his colleagues.”
Labour rebel suspended for six months
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
5 Comments
How pathetic. We elect people to represent us, NOT toe the party line. Is it any wonder that people are turned off politics?
This is just disgraceful it really is……. especially this quote “He also claimed his fellow ward councillors had made it clear they had no desire to work with him ”
Take a look round Fairfield and Howley, His Fellow Ward councillors are not working full stop, never mind working with Him. Considering our Mayor is a councillor for the ward I find it a double disgrace that this nonsense of suspending a councillor that appears to be at least doing a bit of work is going on in the first place.
I will NOT be voting for these non working councillors again… Howley especially (with its Heritage Trail should be a beautiful and historic part of our Town Centre. Sadly its half derelict half shambles… but when we have Councillors who have hands tied behind their backs and Councillors who have done absolutely nothing for the Ward then What can we expect.(over to you Mr Mayor, and Mr Higgins)
Your above comments are utter tosh ! , I live in willis street and I see cllr Higgins every single week at the community hub in Fairfield st and Nora st were he is most definitely well liked and respected .
The two councillors you have just slagged off are the ones who found the funding for St. Peter’s park to build a new hub there also they have worked non stop for the friends of st elphins park to make it the family fun place it is now and not the mess it was in when Kevin Bennett was around .
So instead of cheap shots and attacking the good councillors go check your facts mister , and find out exactly who’s doing what !
Rebel 2 votes, others 1. Should be a substantial majority next election.
I forgot to add, instead of quoting a spokesperson in the report why isn’t he/she named to make it sound more official?