Some people never learn
According to tomorrow's Whitehaven News the Labour group intend to turn down an offer from the newly elected Independent Mayor of Copeland to take up places on his Executive, even though he wanted to invite them to take seats in proportion to their status as a majority group on the council.
Instead they are reportedly expected to choose to go into majority opposition.
If true, this is a disappointment but no surprise.
You would think they might have learned that playing this kind of sectarian party-political game is what has seen their majority in the parliamentary elections in Copeland cut in each of the last two general elections, and is what cost them the Mayoralty this time.
But no, it appears that like the Bourbons, Copeland Labour Party has forgotten nothing and learned nothing.
I cannot possibly put this better than the Whitehaven News leader does, so I will simply quote it:
"PARTY GAMES
"So much for a fresh start! Mike Starkie's tenure as Copeland's first elected mayor is only days old and so begins his first political row.
"Labour councillors are seemingly set to refuse positions on Mr Starkie's powerful Executive committee, instead forming the opposition, and leaving the mayor to select up to nine from the remaining 22 Tory and Independent members.
"We say that, by petulantly removing themselves from a position of any real power, Labour councillors are doing a disservice to the people who voted 29 of them in, preferring instead to throw brickbats from the opposition benches.
"So we send sincere good wishes to every politician who won via the ballot boxes of Copeland last Thursday. Whether they are veterans or newbies, we wish them wisdom, patience, strength and good luck in their efforts to serve and improve our communities. They might need it."
Instead they are reportedly expected to choose to go into majority opposition.
If true, this is a disappointment but no surprise.
You would think they might have learned that playing this kind of sectarian party-political game is what has seen their majority in the parliamentary elections in Copeland cut in each of the last two general elections, and is what cost them the Mayoralty this time.
But no, it appears that like the Bourbons, Copeland Labour Party has forgotten nothing and learned nothing.
I cannot possibly put this better than the Whitehaven News leader does, so I will simply quote it:
"PARTY GAMES
"So much for a fresh start! Mike Starkie's tenure as Copeland's first elected mayor is only days old and so begins his first political row.
"Labour councillors are seemingly set to refuse positions on Mr Starkie's powerful Executive committee, instead forming the opposition, and leaving the mayor to select up to nine from the remaining 22 Tory and Independent members.
"We say that, by petulantly removing themselves from a position of any real power, Labour councillors are doing a disservice to the people who voted 29 of them in, preferring instead to throw brickbats from the opposition benches.
"So we send sincere good wishes to every politician who won via the ballot boxes of Copeland last Thursday. Whether they are veterans or newbies, we wish them wisdom, patience, strength and good luck in their efforts to serve and improve our communities. They might need it."
Comments
"Labour councillors are doing a disservice to the people who voted 29 of them in, preferring instead to throw brickbats from the opposition benches." that's a brilliant quote, which sums up the position nicely.