Labour-controlled Sandwell Council – for years the bastion of the Labour right – has elected a council leader from the left. Yvonne Davies – a no-nonsense councillor who has frequently butted heads with local MPs Tom Watson and John Spellar – was elected this evening by 35 votes to 33.
Sandwell’s previous two council leaders resigned: Watson ally Steve Eling after being suspended by the Labour Party after a number of serious complaints about his conduct which have seen his case referred to the party’s ultimate disciplinary body; his successor Steve Trow, whom many considered a place-holder in the expectation that Eling would eventually return, resigned on the night of the local elections results.
Cllr Davies has also accused Watson of ‘making my life a misery’ and according to numerous eye-witnesses was the target of concerted aggression from senior councillors for criticising another Watson-Eling ally during a council meeting. She was fully exonerated by the party.
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How can a councillor who signed a letter with a thousand other councillors supporting Owen Smith in the second leadership election be described as left wing?
All things are relative, John
Andy, she also wanted to stop, or least delay, the publication of the Wragg report, which exposed the corruption of some of the councillors. Not a very left wing action.
In this case, could the description ‘left wing’ be a relative term?
Bingo!
Well done Steve for supporting democracy in Sandwell and the best of luck to Yvonne Davies
Andy & Jack to be precise the article describes Davies as being ‘from the left’. In my world someone who supported Owen Smith against Jeremy Corbyn cannot be described as ‘from the left’.
I would also argue that even in relative terms she is to the right of the previous leader Steve Eling.
Let us not forget that Owen Smith endorsed nuclear war during that leadership election.
Here is the full horror of what he said:
Andrew Marr: The nuclear deterrent (sic) only works of course if the Prime Minister of the day is prepared to press the button and annihilate possibly millions of people. As Prime Minister, would you press the
button under certain circumstances?
Owen Smith: You’ve got to be prepared to say ‘yes’ to that, Andrew.
ANDREW MARR SHOW, 17TH JULY 2016.