ELN: The local press would not have to mention former councillor Michael Keith so often if his name didn’t keep coming up in connection with the by-election in Weavers Ward due to be held on 3rd May.
Today’s news is that Labour has finally decided to exclude ward members from the selection process – contrary to practice across virtually the entire country, but in line with practice in Tower Hamlets over several years. It appears that local Labour leaders have decided that they will choose the by-election candidate rather than trust members in the ward to decide which candidate they will prefer.
Those due to select the “lucky” candidate include the local Party’s Chair and Vice-Chair and Leader of the Labour Group of Councillors Josh Peck. One local member has been brought forward to add a local view: none other than Councillor wannabe Graham Taylor. Clearly seen as a safe pair of hands by the local hierarchy, Taylor will be a controversial choice with local members who are still bemused over why he should be so adrift from local party policy that he pushed Bethnal Green Technology College to seek academy status. As the officials on selection duty are all men, a woman is likely to be found from somewhere to join the panel and provide diversity.
Over a dozen Tower Hamlets Labour Party members are said to be interested in running in Weavers. But whereas yesterday the news was that Labour was considering putting a local woman in the hotseat, today’s news is that Michael Keith has put himself firmly back in the frame. While even the Labour Party has to admit that a candidate who has been soundly rejected by the electorate three times in a row is a risky option, current thinking is that an increased turnout for Labour’s Ken Livingstone in the London Mayor election on that day will propel Keith into office as the electorate will not distinguish between the two Labour candidates standing on the same day. While some local members have been asking whether this is perhaps taking the local electorate for granted, they have been quietened by louder voices saying that after Bradford West, the Labour Party could do no such thing.
Fortunately a decision is to be made within a week, as clearly none of us could take this level of excitement too much longer.