Labour Councillor joins RESPECT Coalition - But Wait...
Bob the Party Builder | 26.04.2004 21:53 | Social Struggles
George Galloway's new political coalition with the SWP has just scored a notable success. It has recruited Elaine Abbot, a New Labour councillor in Preston. RESPECT's only other councillor also represents a ward in Preston.
But wait! What's this? It appears that Abbot isn't such a catch after all. Her main previous claim to fame is that she was the mastermind behind the privatisation of all of Preston's council homes. So now an arch-privatiser joins the anti-abortionists in the SWP coalition. Who needs principles?
But wait! What's this? It appears that Abbot isn't such a catch after all. Her main previous claim to fame is that she was the mastermind behind the privatisation of all of Preston's council homes. So now an arch-privatiser joins the anti-abortionists in the SWP coalition. Who needs principles?
From the Lancashire Evening post:
"Elaine Abbot, who was deselected by her own group this year, plans to stand
against the official Labour candidate in her old Riversway ward under the
banner of the group formed by firebrand former Labour MP George Galloway.
She joins becomes the second Respect councillor in the town hall alongside
councillor Michael Lavelette.
Coun Abbot, who was Preston's portfolio holder for housing, has been a
member of the Labour Party for 15 years and served on the district council
for 10.
She had been charged with steering through the handover of the city's
council houses to a non-profit making housing association. But today said
she had been forced to quit because of "disarray" among Preston Labour group
and "major disagreements with Tony Blair and the Labour Government".
An anti-war protester, she said: "I believe the Preston Labour Group is in
total disarray.
"The Labour Group is totally disorganised and split into several factions.
"It is currently planning to cut services, possibly including pensioners'
bus passes, while at the same time spending hundreds of thousands of pounds
on unnecessary refurbishment of the town hall offices.''
She went on: "My views on Iraq are well known. am opposed to the student
top-up fees and increasing back door privatisation of the public services. I
am very worried about the state of the NHS.''
She added that her political views had not changed over the years but was
forced to quit because the Labour Party no longer "represent the socialist
values which I support.''
City council leader Coun John Collins said he only heard the news this
morning after Coun Abbot left two messages on his answerphone.
Today, Coun Collins said he was "disappointed" that Elaine had sought
selection of another party while still a member of the Labour Party and
added that her housing post would be filled with ''a day or two. I very much
regret that Elaine has resigned.
"She has spent a lot of time as a councillor and with the good work she has
done as housing portfolio holder , I do regret it.''
"Elaine Abbot, who was deselected by her own group this year, plans to stand
against the official Labour candidate in her old Riversway ward under the
banner of the group formed by firebrand former Labour MP George Galloway.
She joins becomes the second Respect councillor in the town hall alongside
councillor Michael Lavelette.
Coun Abbot, who was Preston's portfolio holder for housing, has been a
member of the Labour Party for 15 years and served on the district council
for 10.
She had been charged with steering through the handover of the city's
council houses to a non-profit making housing association. But today said
she had been forced to quit because of "disarray" among Preston Labour group
and "major disagreements with Tony Blair and the Labour Government".
An anti-war protester, she said: "I believe the Preston Labour Group is in
total disarray.
"The Labour Group is totally disorganised and split into several factions.
"It is currently planning to cut services, possibly including pensioners'
bus passes, while at the same time spending hundreds of thousands of pounds
on unnecessary refurbishment of the town hall offices.''
She went on: "My views on Iraq are well known. am opposed to the student
top-up fees and increasing back door privatisation of the public services. I
am very worried about the state of the NHS.''
She added that her political views had not changed over the years but was
forced to quit because the Labour Party no longer "represent the socialist
values which I support.''
City council leader Coun John Collins said he only heard the news this
morning after Coun Abbot left two messages on his answerphone.
Today, Coun Collins said he was "disappointed" that Elaine had sought
selection of another party while still a member of the Labour Party and
added that her housing post would be filled with ''a day or two. I very much
regret that Elaine has resigned.
"She has spent a lot of time as a councillor and with the good work she has
done as housing portfolio holder , I do regret it.''
Bob the Party Builder
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