Apr 10 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal
Four rebel Labour councillors who are standing as independents in next month’s unitary elections in Northumberland are said to have been barred from attending a farewell party with their former colleagues.
County councillors Ivan Hayes, David Montgomery, Bill Ashbridge and Paul Kelly have been frozen out of today’s drinks evening at County Hall in Morpeth at which members of the county council’s ruling Labour group will say their goodbyes.
It will be a final get-together for the group before it splits up in the switch to unitary local government next year.
Couns Ashbridge, Hayes, Kelly and Montgomery decided to quit Labour and stand as independents after falling foul of the party drive for more women candidates. Now it has been made clear to them they are not welcome at the party, paid for from a fund all group members have paid into.
Coun Montgomery said: “Ivan Hayes was told the four of us would not be allowed to attend this party and he passed the message on to me. As far as I am concerned, the decision is not down to the group leadership but to certain individuals who don’t want to associate with us. We have been through some hard times as a Labour administration at County Hall and I have made some good friends in the group, so it is sad that it has come to this.
“It would have been nice to have had a drink together and say goodbye, despite what has happened, but we have been prevented from doing that by a petty decision.”
One group loyalist, who asked not to be identified, said: “I don’t know of any official ban, but none of us expects the so-called Gang of Four to attend the party. They have turned their backs on the Labour Party for personal gain and I’m sure some people would walk out tomorrow night if they turned up.”
Coun Hayes, executive member for corporate services, did not attend this week’s executive meeting after being “advised” not to in light of his decision to go independent.
He said: “I suppose this all shows how bitter things have become.”
Four rebel Labour councillors who are standing as independents in next month’s unitary elections in Northumberland are said to have been barred from attending a farewell party with their former colleagues.
County councillors Ivan Hayes, David Montgomery, Bill Ashbridge and Paul Kelly have been frozen out of today’s drinks evening at County Hall in Morpeth at which members of the county council’s ruling Labour group will say their goodbyes.
It will be a final get-together for the group before it splits up in the switch to unitary local government next year.
Couns Ashbridge, Hayes, Kelly and Montgomery decided to quit Labour and stand as independents after falling foul of the party drive for more women candidates. Now it has been made clear to them they are not welcome at the party, paid for from a fund all group members have paid into.
Coun Montgomery said: “Ivan Hayes was told the four of us would not be allowed to attend this party and he passed the message on to me. As far as I am concerned, the decision is not down to the group leadership but to certain individuals who don’t want to associate with us. We have been through some hard times as a Labour administration at County Hall and I have made some good friends in the group, so it is sad that it has come to this.
“It would have been nice to have had a drink together and say goodbye, despite what has happened, but we have been prevented from doing that by a petty decision.”
One group loyalist, who asked not to be identified, said: “I don’t know of any official ban, but none of us expects the so-called Gang of Four to attend the party. They have turned their backs on the Labour Party for personal gain and I’m sure some people would walk out tomorrow night if they turned up.”
Coun Hayes, executive member for corporate services, did not attend this week’s executive meeting after being “advised” not to in light of his decision to go independent.
He said: “I suppose this all shows how bitter things have become.”
