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Editorial THE RIGHT THING

READERS OF the Havering Post will be aware that both Labour OUR MAIN article looks at just and Tory MPs have recently resigned. In mid-February, seven one of many reasons why so MPs set the ball rolling by turning their backs on the Labour many people are ‘turned off’ Party. They were soon followed by three Tories – all now sit by politics and politicians at in Parliament as part of The Independent Group (TIG). both a national and local level.

The ex-Parliamentary Labour Party MPs are: Luciana Berger, Ann It examines two cases – both Coffey, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie, Joan Ryan, Gavin Shuker, Angela national and local - whereby Smith and Chuka Umunna. The Tories are: Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston. Ian Austin also quit the Labour Party but politicians have got elected on didn’t join TIG as he fully supports Brexit. All of these MPs are a particular set of policies probably unknown to most people outside of the Westminster bubble. contained in their party manifesto. They’ve subsequently quit as elected representatives of the various parties they previously represented. In doing so, they’ve then turned their backs on all of those who have supported them – the most important of which are the electorate.

Crucially, none of them have done the honourable thing by resigning and fighting any by- election under their new flag.

The Havering Post believes this is what needs to be done Havering Town Hall. We feel that the electorate has been denied here. Last May three democracy. Is it right that councillors who’re elected under one political banner can jump ship so easily? The Havering Post feels Residents Association and that they should do the honourable thing by resigning and fighting one independent councillor any by-election under their new flag. immediately switched over to supporting the Tories. This The majority of the Labour MPs to get Jeremy Corbyn elected represents a democratic jumped ship because they as Labour leader – meant that deficit. claimed that Labour was internal debates had been ‘institutionally anti-Semitic’, had closed down with a ‘narrow, The next set of local elections an ‘ongoing culture of bullying’ outdated vision'. are a long way away. There’s and had been hijacked by the still ample time for the ‘Back ‘machine politics of the hard The three Tories who resigned Stabbers’ to resign their seats left'. In addition, the influence are all Remainers and are totally of Momentum – effectively the opposed to Brexit. and fight as Tories. Will they do the right thing? group which led the campaign Continued over In fact, opposition to Brexit is “It is sad to think 8,038 residents decency to resign their seat and one of two things which unites in Harold Wood voted for the fight a by-election under their all of those who have joined Residents Association and new colours. This has TIG. 1,312 in South Hornchurch prompted many people to voted for an independent. A demand that if a MP decides to The other unifying factor is that total of 9,350 fellow citizens leave the party they were they’ve all refused to resign have been cheated by these elected under, then they should their seats and intend to stand four defectors. be required by law to call a by- as candidates for TIG in any election and stand as an subsequent by-elections. In It’s not like they defected half independent or for another party doing so, they have shown that way through their term, but on if they wish to remain a sitting they have no morals or honour. the first day. This cannot MP. In fact, an on-line petition continue - some judicial review can be found at But what has this all got to do needs to be put in place to stop www.petition.parliament.uk to with Havering? councillors swapping sides. I this effect. am totally disgusted. They The answer is that what’s have no morals. We feel that there’s a happened at a national level reasonable case for this being (for the Labour Party and the I find it a personal insult to hear applied at a local level as well. Tories) effectively reflects what that some people in the RA and happened here after last May’s Independent coalition feel it is Councillors Michael-Deon local elections. In short, OK to lie to us, your electorate, Burton, Brian Eagling, Martin democracy has been denied. by way of selling their soul to Goode and Darren Wise all the Conservatives, just so they made campaign promises as Readers will know that the can form a majority party to Residents Association Tories have ruled Havering for lead our council. candidates. They all issued more years than they would election literature to that effect. care to remember (17 years in I can assure you I will personally And they all got elected as non- fact). However, last May it do my best to make sure that Tory candidates. The looked like their stranglehold the people in those wards know electorate expected them to was over. Several Residents full well what they voted for. If deliver what they had promised Associations (RA) and we the electorate wanted to be and they should have finished Independent groups had united lied to, we would vote Labour what they had started. But they under the ‘Independent or Conservatives. sold the voters a lie – because Havering’ banner and were no-one was aware that they really giving the Tories a run Independent Havering is a new were Tories in disguise. for their money. and fresh political movement in modern politics and should be By doing this, Havering’s ‘Back Things were so tight that the supported to the hilt.” Stabbers’ also turned their local Tories had do some horse backs on their policies, trading. It appears that some The Havering Post doesn’t manifestos and the people who Residents Association and know what made the ‘Back campaigned so hard to get Independent councillors were Stabbers’ jump ship. However, them elected. These four local approached by the we believe that those councillors should do the right Conservative Party and were councillors who switched sides thing and resign. They should offered positions to help them are guilty – at the very least - then fight any by-election. This to set up a Havering Council of betrayal and bad faith. Some is the only way that we can Administration. In the event, may say that they’re also guilty reverse the denial of democracy four of them jumped ship. of deliberately deceiving voters. here. Known as the ‘Back Stabbers’, Whatever the case may be, they are Michael-Deon Burton they’ve all stabbed the (who even joined the Tory electorate in the back. If people Party), Brian Eagling, Martin in their areas wanted a Tory • FUTURE ISSUES of the Goode and Darren Wise. councillor they would have Havering Post will examine voted for one. Instead the other ways in which we can This action meant that the electorate opted for non-Tories make both national and local remaining loyal Residents – but got Tories by the back politics more representative of Association and Independent door! That’s an out-and-out the people. Thus we’ll look at councillors were denied the denial of democracy. Proportional Representation, a opportunity to run Havering. ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) This disgraceful situation was Earlier we noted that none of option on ballot papers, summed up by one voter, who the Labour and Tory MPs Referendums, Preferendums noted at the time: who’ve quit have had the and Voter Recall.

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